Causeway Consultants

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department  (a) has and  (b) has had with (i) Causeway Consultants and (ii) White Rock Research and Consultancy; what the (A) nature and (B) value was of work undertaken; when each piece of work was (1) started and (2) completed; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office has not undertaken any contracts with Causeway Consultants or White Rock Research and Consultancy.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon emissions produced by his Department in each year since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: My Department contributes data on energy consumption to the Northern Ireland Public Sector Energy Committee annual report. The most up-to-date figures on carbon emissions from energy consumption are contained in the 2005-06 PSEC report and show estimated emissions as being 1,434,000 kg CO2, this is a reduction of 11 per cent. from 2004-05 figures. During this period 17 per cent. of our electricity came from renewable sources, overall 9 per cent. of our energy came from renewable sources. We have recently invested in biomass heating and solar energy generation at Hillsborough Castle. No figures are available prior to 2004-05.
	Since April 2006 emissions from central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset through the Government carbon offsetting fund. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to the fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reduction credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
	The DEFRA website provides a comprehensive list of Government carbon offsetting fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund, available at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm.

Departmental Data Protection

Tom Brake: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans the Commission has to review its practices involved in transporting personal data; and whether the Commission uses TNT to transport such data.

Nick Harvey: The Clerk of the House has commissioned a review of data and information security which is being led by the Parliamentary Security Co-ordinator. The review is being carried out as a matter of priority. TNT have been used to courier information such as Committee and Delegation papers, artwork and images but only rarely have they been used to transport personal data such as passports and then only in cases of urgency.

Investigatory Powers

David Kidney: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what investigatory powers the Electoral Commission has; and what further powers the Commission has requested.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it can require registered political parties, recognised third parties, permitted participants at a referendum, regulated donees and candidates to provide information relating to their financial affairs. A person authorised by the Commission may enter the premises of a registered party, recognised third party or permitted participant to inspect and copy their financial records.
	The Commission has called for wider investigative powers to enable it to obtain information from any source that has relevant information.

Electoral Register: Fraud

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what processes are in place for liaison between the police and the Electoral Commission when dealing with serious breaches of electoral law.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that arrangements are in place with the Association of Chief Police Officers, individual police forces and prosecution authorities in regard to electoral malpractice. This includes a single point of contact on election issues in each police force in England, Wales and Scotland to deal with such matters.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has given to political parties on making donations via intermediaries and declaring the original donor.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it publishes Donations and loans: guidance for political parties in Great Britain, which is available on its website, www.electoralcommission.org.uk This details the reporting requirements on donations to political parties, including those made on behalf of others.
	Similar guidance has been given to political parties in Northern Ireland.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance on compliance with legislation is provided by the Commission to registered treasurers of political parties.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it provides a range of guidance for registered treasurers of political parties, covering donations, loans, campaign expenditure, policy development grants and statements of accounts. These publications are available on the Commission's website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Departmental Data Protection

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many confirmed data security breaches there have been in his Department in the last 36 months; and what action was taken after each occurrence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Departmental Statistics

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the statistical information which his Department has responsibility to collect; and in each case whether that information is collected on a  (a) national or  (b) regional basis.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has responsibility to supply tourism statistics for the UK to the statistical office of the European Commission (Eurostat) in line with the tourism statistics directive. This requires information at both a national and regional level on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. The data are collected by the Office for National Statistics and by the National Tourist Boards and are supplied to Eurostat by DCMS.
	The Department also collects and publishes a series of regular and ongoing statistical products under the professional management of the Head of Profession for statistics. Statistical information collected and produced outside the professional management of the Head of Profession for statistics, including by the Department's non-departmental public bodies, is not listed.
	The Department currently publishes two products classed as 'National Statistics':
	Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport; and
	Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistics.
	Information for Taking Part is collected from private households in England and results are primarily published at a national level, though some information has also been published by Government office region where possible.
	Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment statistics are collected from licensing authorities in England and Wales and are published at both the aggregate England and Wales level and on an individual authority basis.
	The Department has also previously published a third National Statistics productBetting Licence Statisticshowever this publication is being reviewed in light of changes in gambling laws.
	The Department also annually publishes two non-National Statistics products:
	Creative Industries Economic Estimates; and
	Television Exports Statistics.
	Creative Industries economic estimates are published at a UK level only, and are based on business information collected by the Office for National Statistics. The television exports survey collects information directly from members of the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT). Published results therefore relate to the total exports across PACT members only.
	Statistical information on the number of venues in England and Wales staging live music has also been collected on an infrequent basis. This information was last published in 2004, with an update to be released later this month.

Licensing

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations his Department has received from police representatives on the effects of the Licensing Act 2003.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We frequently receive views from bodies representing the police, such as the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), and from individual police forces on how the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) is working. Recent feedback has included examples of how the new powers are being used to make a positive impact and how flexible closing times have helped spread dispersal and reduces peaks of alcohol-related disorder.
	I value the input of the police in identifying where the 2003 Act could do better, which is why we actively seek their views when considering adjustments to the regime.

Olympic Games 2012: Voluntary Work

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect the London 2012 Olympic Games will have on levels of participation in voluntary work.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister for the Olympics.
	The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Game estimate that they are likely to require up to 70,000 volunteers for the 2012 Games. Since the bid 160,000 people have registered an interest in volunteering on the London 2012 database. The Personal Best Programme, which has just completed its pilot phase, aims to encourage participants from deprived backgrounds with low level qualifications into training and volunteering using the power of the Games.
	In addition, the Government are currently examining other ways to promote volunteering more widely using the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the Games as part of the preparations for the launch of the Legacy Action Plan in the new year.

Departmental Christmas

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been  (a) made available to and  (b) taken up by his Department's agencies for the purchase of Christmas decorations.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 The Department does not have any account codes or categories specifically identifying spend on Christmas decorations and, to try and identify any such expenditure would incur a disproportionate amount of time and cost.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is his policy that parents of disabled children who are not claiming disability living allowance should be encouraged to claim jobseeker's allowance.

Anne McGuire: Parents of disabled children can claim jobseeker's allowance. For jobseeker's allowance to be paid, customers must meet conditions of entitlement, which includes being available for and actively seeking work. However, customers with caring responsibilities, such as parents of disabled children, can limit their availability for work to a minimum of 16 hours per week and do not have to be immediately available for work, providing they are willing and able to start work if given one weeks notice and attend an interview if given 48 hours notice.
	In the recently published Green Paper, 'In Work, Better Off: Next Steps to Full Employment', we have outlined proposals for lone parents who are able to work. Lone parents who also have other reasons for claiming income support, e.g. if they have children for whom the middle or highest rate care component of disability living allowance (DLA) is payable, or they claim carers allowance (CA), or are fostering will continue to be eligible to claim income support.
	Details of our proposals are currently being finalised following the consultation and we will publish our response soon.

New Deal for Musicians

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the New Deal for Musicians has cost in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: New Deal for Musicians (NDfM) started in 1999. Information on the cost of NDfM in each year since then is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal for musicians 
			million 
			 1999-2000 2.3 
			 2000-01 5.8 
			 2001-02 6.0 
			 2002-03 4.7 
			 2003-04 3.8 
			 2004-05 4.0 
			 2005-06 2.4 
			 2006-07 1.5 
			  Notes:  1. Spend excludes admin costs.  2. Spend for 2006-07 is confirmed spend.   Source:  Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus Finance Directorates

New Deal for Musicians

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people have entered the new deal for musicians in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many people have left the new deal for musicians and  (a) gone into sustained employment,  (b) gone into employment,  (c) returned to or continued receiving benefit payments immediately on leaving,  (d) returned to benefit payments within six months and  (e) returned to benefit payments within one year.

Caroline Flint: New deal for musicians (NDfM) aims to help aspiring unemployed musicians into a sustainable career in the music industry, either as artists under contract or unsupported self-employed artists within the music industry.
	New deal for musicians is delivered as part of the mainstream new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus programmes; participant numbers and job outcomes for new deal for musicians are now incorporated into statistics for these mainstream programmes.
	The available information on the number of people who have entered new deal for musicians in each year is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of participants in new deal for musicians 
			   Total in year  () 
			 1999 1,515 
			 2000 3,484 
			 2001 4,015 
			 2002 2,859 
			 2003 (Up to 28 August 2003) 1,590 
			 Total 13,463 
			  Source: New deal for musicians database. 
		
	
	Separate information on the number of people who have left new deal for musicians to employment is only available up to November 2005 and only available for those leaving to sustained jobs. Up to the end of November 2005, 3,880(1)( )people had left the programme to sustained employment.
	The remaining requested information is not available.
	( 1) Source:
	New deal evaluation database, DWP information directorate

New Deal for Musicians

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much it cost to develop and produce the wordbooks for the New Deal for Musicians.

Caroline Flint: New deal for musicians (NDfM) aims to help aspiring unemployed musicians into a sustainable career in the music industry, either as artists under contract or unsupported self-employed artists within the music industry.
	There are nine new deal for musicians workbooks covering subjects such as: jobs in the music industry; recording and production; copyright, and performing. They are available as paper copies and as downloads from the website www.ndfm.learning.com.
	The total cost up to November 2007 of developing and producing the workbooks is 269,059.

New Deal Schemes: Music

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many hits the ndfmlearning.com website received in each of the last 10 years for which data is available.

Caroline Flint: The new deal for musicians website www.ndfmlearning.com was launched on the 21 July 2005 and was fully accessible from the 23 February 2006. Full data on the number of visits to the website is only available from that date.
	In the period 23 February 2006 to 31 December 2006 there were 8,583 visitors to the site and they viewed 24,841 web pages; in the period 1 January 2007 to 31 October 2007(1 )there were 8,375 visitors and they viewed 25,187 web pages.
	(1)Latest available data.

New Deal Schemes

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of those leaving  (a) the New Deal for Young People and  (b) New Deal 25 plus recommenced claiming benefits within (i) six months and (ii) 12 months of leaving the scheme in each year since the schemes began.

Caroline Flint: People who have been on the new deal programme who subsequently return to benefits may be in receipt of out of work or inactive benefits and may not, due to changes in personal circumstances, necessarily return to the benefit they were claiming before they participated on new deal.
	Information on the percentage of leavers from new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus who recommenced claiming benefits within six and 12 months is in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of leavers from new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus who recommenced claiming benefits within six and 12 months of leaving the programmes 
			   New deal for young people  New deal 25 plus 
			   6 months  12 months  6 months  12 months 
			 1998 14 36 14 31 
			 1999 29 50 17 33 
			 2000 31 52 18 35 
			 2001 32 53 19 35 
			 2002 32 53 21 37 
			 2003 31 51 21 37 
			 2004 30 50 22 38 
			 2005 28 48 21 36 
			 2006 27 47 21 36 
			  Notes: 1. Latest data is to May 2007, therefore, allowing for a 12 month gap, only new deal leavers to May 2006 are included within the 12 month column; allowing for a 6 month gap, only new deal leavers to November 2006 are included within the 6 month column. 2. People claiming within 6 months will also be included as claiming within 12 months. 3. The benefits included are: incapacity benefits, invalid care allowance, income support, jobseeker's allowance, severe disablement allowance and widows/bereavement benefits. 4. A benefit claim has only been included if it is a new claim after leaving new deal. People can leave new deal and continue a benefit claim; these people are not included as returning to benefit.  Source:  Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions

Pensioners

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners took up pension credits in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The answer is in the following table.
	The number of households receiving and individual beneficiaries of pension credit in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of households receiving pension credit  Number of individual beneficiaries of pension credit 
			 November 2003 2.08 2.50 
			 May 2004 2.49 3.02 
			 May 2005 2.68 3.26 
			 May 2006 2.72 3.32 
			 May 2007 2.73 3.34 
			  Notes: 1. The number of households in receipt are rounded to the nearest ten thousand. 2. Pension credit was introduced in October 2003 so data for 2003 is as at November. 3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household. 4. The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners, some of whom may be under 60 years of age. 5. Time series data includes minimum income guarantee (MIG) cases: households on income support where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over. About 1.8 million MIG cases transferred to pension credit on 6 October 2003.  Source:  DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data

Frontiers: Personal Records

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the inclusion of passenger name record information in the e-borders programme.

Liam Byrne: Legislation will shortly be introduced to require carriers to provide Travel Document Information (TDI) together with Passenger Name Record data (PNR) (otherwise known as Other Passenger Information (OPI)) to e-Borders to the extent that it is known to the carrier.
	From March 2008 those carriers which provide OPI data under existing arrangements to Project Semaphore, the e-Borders pilot project, will be expected to continue to do so. The Government have funded transmission and transaction costs together with some systems change costs of participation in this pilot. Analysis of both OPI and TDI data has delivered significant operational benefits to border agencies, contributing to the arrest of individuals wanted for offences including murder, drug smuggling, rape and assault; and has led to the seizure of counterfeit travel documents, drugs and contraband. This arrangement however, was always with the understanding that the funding would cease in March 2008 and we will continue to fulfil our undertaking to industry to meet these costs until then.
	The e-Borders Programme will cover 95 per cent. of passenger movements by 2010 and is committed to using all reasonable efforts to achieve a fair roll out. This will be implemented progressively, in a consultative and collaborative manner with carriers and port operators.

Human Trafficking

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government will ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are committed to ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking as soon as possible as part of our ongoing anti-trafficking strategy, set out in the comprehensive UK Action Plan on tackling human trafficking. We will not ratify the Convention until it is certain that we have implemented it in full because our legal system, unlike in some other signatory countries, requires full compliance with a Convention before ratification.

Identity Cards

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reasons her Department revised its estimate of the portion of the total cost of the identity card and biometric passport scheme that would be incurred in order to introduce the second biometric passport in June 2007;
	(2)  what assumptions formed the basis of her Department's estimate in June 2007 that biometric passports accounted for 70 per cent. of the total cost of the biometric passport and ID card scheme;
	(3)  what assumptions underlay her Department's estimate of the apportionment of costs between passports and identity cards in the Identity Cards Scheme Costs Report published in November 2007.

Meg Hillier: the latest six monthly Identity Cards Scheme Cost Report, published on 8 November 2007, sets out those elements of the cost estimates that relate specifically to passports, those specific to identity cards and those that are common to both. The cost of registering individuals for passports and ID cards is included in common costs because the same technology infrastructure and business processes will be used. In many cases, the same application will result in the issue of both a passport and an ID card.
	The latest cost report may be found at:
	http://www/ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp
	I would refer the hon. Member to that report.
	A similar analysis of cost assumptions was undertaken previously in June 2007 to derive the proportion of costs that would be required under the scheme for biometric passport purposes. The June 2007 cost estimates, and the November 2007 cost report figures, are not comparable as they cover different time periods, as required under the ID Cards Act.
	The details assumptions that underpin the Business Case and Cost Report of the National Identity Scheme are commercially sensitive. Release of this detailed information could jeopardise the recently commenced procurement dialogue with potential suppliers of services under the scheme.

International Conference on Illicit Nuclear Trafficking

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution Ministers or officials from her Department made to the International Conference on Illicit Nuclear Trafficking: Collective Experience and the Way Forward, held in Edinburgh between 19 to 22 November.

Tony McNulty: The conference was addressed by William Nye, Director for Law, Security and International in the Office for Security and Counter-terrorism, who provided a keynote speech on 19 November titled The UK approach to combating nuclear terrorism.

Neneh Famata Jalloh

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Border and Immigration Agency to reply to the letter of 29 October from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood sent on behalf of Neneh Famata Jalloh (Home Office reference J112636, acknowledgement reference B30489/7).

Liam Byrne: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 4 December 2007.

Police: Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether numbers of officers employed by non-Home Office police constabularies are counted when calculating total police manpower levels; and how many such officers are employed in each force.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office does not routinely collect data on non-Home Office police forces. However, information on officer, police staff and police community support officer numbers has been provided by the British Transport police on a voluntary basis since 2002-03 in view of that forces high public profile. Although the data is published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Police Service Strength, the number of BTP officers is not included in the overall police officer numbers used by the Home Office. At the end of March 2007 BTP had 2,555 police officers.

European Gendarmerie Force

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, column 188, on the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF), under what circumstances the Government would give its consent to an EGF operation being held in the UK.

Jim Murphy: The primary purpose of the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) is to assist in crisis management operations in post-conflict situations. The EGF will be available on request to any country facing a crisis situation. The Government can foresee no circumstances under which it would give their consent to a EGF operation being held in the UK.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to raise the levels of grants available for the Low Carbon building programme; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	When the Low Carbon Buildings programme household funding stream was re- launched in May 2007, we introduced a grant cap of 2,500 per household and a number of other changes. This was to support a greater number of installations with the limited funds available and to reach a wider audience.
	Although we have a seen a fall in household applications since the re-launch, we are seeing a much better spread of applications across all technologies, which is a key objective of a demonstration programme such as this.
	We will continue to monitor the impact of the 2,500 grant cap on application levels. The household stream will continue until funds run out or March 2009, whichever comes sooner. In the meantime, we are working with industry to promote the programme and encourage take up.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many illegal immigrants have been discovered working for his Department and its agencies in the last year for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department's contractors and sub-contractors are expected to have robust internal processes for ensuring appropriate personnel are engaged. From information held centrally, the Department is not aware of any illegal immigrants having worked for the core-Department. Similar information on DEFRA'S Executive agencies is not held centrally and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	DEFRA came into being in June 2001. Employment in the civil service is done in accordance with the civil service nationality rules, which are available at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/nationality
	DEFRA expects to comply with the current legislation for the prevention of illegal migrant working (section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996). As a Government Department DEFRA expects to comply with the legislation in this area following guidance set out in the Baseline Security Standard.
	The hon. Member may wish to look at the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) website which provides a good overview. The site is at:
	http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/18383/18469/fullguidance1.pdf

Inland Waterways: Repairs and Maintenance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on maintaining waterways in England in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA holds information only for the three major navigation authoritiesBritish Waterways, the Environment Agency and the Broads Authority. It is not possible to disaggregate the figures for Wales from the total for British Waterways and the Environment Agency.
	The amount that has been spent on the waterways in the past five years in England and Wales is as follows:
	
		
			
			 2002-03 223.01 
			 2003-04 210.24 
			 2004-05 193.34 
			 2005-06 204.98 
			 2006-07 209.42

Office of Climate Change: Manpower

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff are employed in the Office of Climate Change, broken down by civil service grade.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 11 December 2007
	At 30 November 2007 the Office of Climate Change has an full time equivalent of 48. It is our policy not to comment on staff grades where individuals could be identified.

Waste Disposal: Leicester

Patricia Hewitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the performance of Leicester city council on collection, recycling and disposal of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: Local authority household waste performance is measured by adding together their recycling and composting rates under Best Value Performance Indicators 82a (household waste the local authority sends for recycling) and 82b (waste sent by the authority to composting or anaerobic digestion).
	Leicester city council achieved a 27.2 per cent household recycling and composting rate in 2006-07. The national average is 31 per cent.

Waste Management: Environment Protection

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the environment of  (a) incinerating waste and  (b) disposing of waste through landfill; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: An independent review, peer-reviewed by the Royal Society, on the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management, was published by DEFRA in 2004. The review concluded that, based on the evidence from studies so far, the treatment of municipal solid wasteincluding by incineration and landfillhas, at most, a minor impact on human health and the environment. DEFRA has also published a study, Impact of Energy from Waste and Recycling Policy on UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which is available on the DEFRA website.
	11 per cent. of waste is currently incinerated in England, but an increase is likely to be needed to be able to meet Landfill Directive targets, despite big improvements in waste recycling and minimisation. Recovering energy from waste (including via incineration) offers a considerable climate change benefit compared to the alternative of landfill. This is primarily through avoided landfill methane emissions, with energy generated from the biodegradable fraction of waste also offsetting fossil fuel power generation.
	The Environment Agency ensures that emissions and other outputs from waste management facilities are within the limits set by the EU and the UK Government to minimise any negative impact.

ACP Countries: Economic Agreements

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress there has been on the economic partnership agreement negotiations; and what progress he expects before the 1 January 2008 deadline.

Gareth Thomas: As of 11 December, 17 countries have signed an interim goods agreement with the Commission. These are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, the Comoros, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
	Commissioner Mandelson reported to the European Union General Affairs and External Relation Council on 10 December that there is a good possibility that Ghana, Namibia, Cameroon, Gabon and the Caribbean will also sign goods agreements before 1 January.
	32 other Least Developed Countries in Africa and the Pacific are not expected to sign a goods agreement or economic partnership agreement before 1 January but will continue to have duty and quota free access to the European Union after 1 January under the 2001 Everything But Arms initiative.
	South Africa is not expected to sign a goods agreement or economic partnership agreement before 1 January and will continue to have access to the European Union under its existing trade agreement.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether his Department's work in Afghanistan is primarily intended to support the development work undertaken by the government of Afghanistan;
	(2)  whether his Department's work in Afghanistan is primarily intended to support the counter-insurgency role of UK armed forces in Helmand Province.

Gareth Thomas: DFID's programme is primarily intended to support the development work led by the Government of Afghanistan. The best way to do this is by supporting Afghans themselveswhich is why over 80 per cent. of our aid goes directly to the Government of Afghanistan. This is helping to build the legitimacy and capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to manage their own finances and economy. DFID's programme focuses on: building effective state institutions and better governance; improving economic management; and improving livelihoods.
	As a result of this support, Afghanistan has seen real progress since 2001, with life improving for many Afghans. Around 5.4 million children are now in school, over a third of them girls. This is up from an estimated 1 million children in school in 2001, of whom very few were girls and who were officially denied access to education under the Taliban. Afghan domestic revenues grew by over 300 per cent. between fiscal years 2002-03 and 2006-07 and over 166 million worth of small loans have been given to over 404,000 families, shopkeepers, tailors, farmers, builders and others to invest in legal businesses and increase their savings. DFID also provides support to the Afghan Government's National Solidarity Programme (NSP), which is helping over 18,000 community development councils identify development priorities, and has approved over 32,000 projects in villages across Afghanistanincluding building health clinics and schools, and improving water supplies and electricity generation.
	All elements of the DFID programme take account of and support the counter-insurgency role of UK armed forces in Helmand province, as well as other aspects of the UK's Comprehensive Approach in Afghanistan. DFID provides a development adviser to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand. Last year DFID provided 4 million of the total 6.2 million UK funding for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and this year will provide 6 million of the total 9 million of UK funding. By July 2007, over 180 QIPS were planned, on-going or complete, including training programmes for drug addicts, equipment and training for the Afghan police, improvements to the prison in Lashkar Gah, and construction of parks and children's playgrounds. DFID also works with the Government to improve service delivery in Helmand. In 2007-08 DFID provided 10 million of funding to help the Government of Afghanistan improve sanitation, build and maintain roads, and provide credit to support legal businesses, and we plan to provide the same amount next year.

Afghanistan and Iraq: Reconstruction

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress has been made on his Department's reconstruction projects in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Iraq.

Douglas Alexander: DFID provides its main support to physical reconstruction projects in Afghanistan through three Government of Afghanistan programmes: the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), which funds community-level projects chosen by these communities; the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP), which builds and rehabilitates rural roads and bridges; and the Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (HARDP), which funds a wide range of development activity in Helmand province, including wells.
	As of 21 November, NSP had completed 15,111 projects in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, an increase of 552 projects on the previous month. It had also rehabilitated 9,333 km of road and 101 bridges across the country, with a further 544 km of road and 16 bridges under construction. Meanwhile, under HARDP, 740 wells have been completed since the start of 2007, with 270 under construction. A further 1,000 wells and 6,030 latrines are planned for 2008. The Government also supports physical reconstruction projects in Helmand through its programme of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). Over 230 QIPs have been implemented by the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Helmand since July 2006, including 100 in 2007-08.
	Since March 2003, DFID has committed over 100 million to infrastructure regeneration projects in Iraq. This has helped to create employment for several thousand Iraqis in repairing some of southern Iraq's key infrastructure. We have added or secured 415 MW of electricity to the Iraqi national grid, and will be adding or securing a further 60 MW over the next few months. This will be enough to provide 24 hours of power for around 1 million people. By early 2008 DFID will have improved access to water for 1 million people.
	Our work with Basra Provincial Council (BPC) has helped it to deliver a Provincial Development Strategy (the first ever in Iraq), and establish increasingly transparent economic governance. The central Government funds in 2007, after receiving nothing in 2005. We are also working with the Iraqi Government and the BPC to take forward a series of economic initiatives supported by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. They include a Basra Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA) and an overarching 'Basra Development Commission (BDC)', to be supported with advice from international business leaders, including from the UK.

Afghanistan and Iraq: Reconstruction

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 915W, on Iraq: reconstruction, 
	(1)  for what reasons the Government maintain that increased attention must be given to monitoring of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq; and what shortcomings have been identified;
	(2)  what body will conduct the independent review of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq;
	(3)  reconstruction, what the remit of the independent review of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq will be; and what the deadline is for the review to report.

Douglas Alexander: The United Nations conducts its own internal monitoring systems as standard practice. These tend to focus more on factual outputs, such as number of schools refurbished or text books distributed. Furthermore, each project is assessed based on its own merit. This 'Multi-donor Stocktaking Review' will assess the impact and sustainability of projects funded by IRFFI rather than focusing on the outputs; it will also assess IRFFI funded programmes relative to programmes funded by bilateral donors.
	The stocktaking review will be led by a review steering committee (RSC), which is made up of four partiesCanada, the Commission, Japan and the UK. They are appointing an international consultancy firm to conduct the review. This tendering process is close to completion and, when it is, the successful bidder will be announced by UNOPS, the administrating agent.
	The stocktaking review will take a comprehensive look at the impact of IRFFI's projects in Iraq as a whole. It aims to provide an independent, results-based assessment of the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness of IRFFI-supported programmes. The review will be important for both the accountability of the Iraqi authorities to the Iraqi people, as well as donor agencies to their taxpayers. The review is expected to be completed in the second half of 2008.

Africa: Politics and Government

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to co-operate with African Parliaments in countries where the UK has a substantial aid programme.

Gareth Thomas: In Africa, countries in which DFID is assisting, or has recently assisted, Parliaments include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, programmes to improve public financial management can involve work with parliamentary public accounts committees, as in the case of Zambia.
	DFID has committed support to the Pan-African Parliament and has also been funding a project to establish additional African chapters of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank. This network mobilises parliamentarians in the fight against poverty, promotes transparency and accountability in international development and offers a platform for dialogue between the World Bank and parliamentarians.
	In order to improve understanding of the issues, we are helping to fund the African Legislatures Project, a three-year comparative research project on the legislatures of 18 sub-Saharan African countries.
	Other steps planned or in progress to improve the effectiveness of efforts to strengthen Parliaments include commissioning case studies on the relative strengths of different approaches to parliamentary strengthening; supporting the establishment of a contact group to harness UK-based enthusiasm for strengthening developing country parliaments; and supporting the establishment of a donor consultative group on parliamentary strengthening.

Gaza: Politics and Government

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what steps he is taking to improve the position for the indigenous population;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Shahid Malik: On his recent visit to the occupied Palestinian territories (OPTs), the Secretary of State discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, businessmen, donors and humanitarian workers. These discussions confirmed the assessment provided by DFID's regular monitoring, much of which relies on information from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA's most recent reports indicate that although humanitarian aid is getting into Gaza, restrictions at crossings mean that only 41 per cent. of Gaza's food needs are being imported. Shortages in basic food stuffs have led to price increases and less food being purchased. 80 per cent. of the population in Gaza now receives food aid. Following the fuel cuts imposed by Israel on 28 October, the public provider of water services is receiving only 50 per cent. of the fuel needed to operate its facilities. Combined with a lack of spare parts for generators, this has meant that some people are only receiving water for one to two hours a day.
	The UK is deeply concerned about the situation and we are doing what we can to help. During his visit, the Secretary of State expressed concern to Defence Minister Barak about the humanitarian effect of the reduction in fuel supplies and other Israeli actions. He discussed plans to reopen Gaza's crossings with President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad.
	The UK is also providing humanitarian assistance. In 2007, DFID has given 15.6 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to provide essential services such as food, housing and education to Palestinian refugees in the occupied Palestinian territories and wider region. Refugees make up 70 per cent. of Gaza's population. We have provided 15 million to the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) since 2006 for health services, allowances for government workers and water, sanitation and electricity services. We have also given 1 million this year to fund ICRC's emergency appeal for Gaza.

Iraq: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 9 October 2007,  Official Report, columns 437-38W, on Iraq: overseas aid, what lessons have been learnt from provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq that could apply to Afghanistan in terms of how and where aid is delivered.

Gareth Thomas: Provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) were originally established in Afghanistan and adopted in Iraq as a successful model. The PRT model has proven itself as an effective means of improving the delivery and co-ordination of aid and other development activity in conflict environments.
	DFID works closely with other Government Departments and international partners to ensure that key lessons from PRTs in both countries are captured. The cross- departmental Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit has a formal role in ensuring that lessons are recorded for wider application, including the co-ordination of civilian and military initiatives. The primary purpose of PRTs in Iraq is to build the capacity of the provincial Government to deliver benefits for its citizens. Major differences in the focus of the Iraq and Afghanistan programmes mean that some lessons are not readily transferred, but some general principles are applicable. The importance of building the capacity of provincial government and good governance, and of supporting each country's own central and provincial government to lead on and deliver reconstruction initiatives are major examples.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on local level conflict between the Hadendowa and the Beni Amer in Eastern Sudan.

Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
	Although we are aware of tensions between the Handendowa and the Beni Amir over resources and power sharing, we have not received any significant reports of violent conflict in Eastern Sudan since the signing of the East Sudan Peace Agreement in October 2007.
	The UK welcomes the stability that the East Sudan Peace Agreement has brought to the region and urges the parties to implement it fully and fairly. The UK is funding a UN programme to develop a comprehensive risk and threat mapping tool to provide a better understanding of local conflict dynamics, including in the East of Sudan, and to inform future aid programmes.

Armed Forces: Coroners

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many departmental personnel on average attended coroners' inquests into the deaths of a serviceman or woman in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is keen to support coroners in the conduct of their statutory duty to inquire into certain deaths. The level of MOD attendance at the inquests into the deaths of service personnel will vary depending on the circumstances of the death and the roles of those attending are varied.
	The Ministry of Defence provides the family of a deceased service person with a dedicated visiting officer to support them through their bereavement and it is usual for visiting officers to attend inquests as part of their duties. On occasion, other welfare support staff will also attend to assist the families; each case varies and is largely dependent on the wishes of the families.
	An inquest into a road traffic accident on public roads in the UK may have only one or two MOD personnel attending, made up of the family's visiting officer and, as needed, an officer to report on the proceedings and findings. For more complex inquests, there is a greater level of attendance; this may include MOD service and civilian personnel who have been called as witnesses, as well as MOD subject matter experts provided to assist the coroner to establish the facts around more complex areas such as operational or technical issues. The MOD may also have support staff for witnesses and a press officer in attendance on some occasions.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected tour length is of Apache crews; and whether there are any plans to change the length of operational tours.

Bob Ainsworth: The Apache was first deployed to Afghanistan in April 2006. The current operational tour length for Apache crews is six months, which is generally split into two three month deployments separated by a three month gap. As of May 2008, operational tours for Apache crews will last for four uninterrupted months.

Armed Forces: Divorce

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of armed forces marriages that broke down in each year since 2001; and what support his Department provides for armed forces marriages in circumstances where services personnel are absent for long periods of time on training activities or deployment.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 202W, to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper).
	The MOD places a very high priority on the welfare of its service personnel and their families. There are a range of measures in place designed to support marriages for all service personnel and their families including the provision of service family accommodation, a range of pastoral and welfare services where service families can go for advice and support at all times. This includes close links with organisations such as RELATE.
	Support to armed forces personnel deployed away from their home base is primarily through the Chain of Command, supported by service religious leaders and medical staff where appropriate. Service welfare staff remain available in home base locations to support families during deployments of service personnel.
	Additional support for those on operational deployments and certain overseas exercises include briefings before and during deployment, free telephone calls, 'e-blueys' and internet access to facilitate communication, extra travel allowances available to dependants and close family members and welfare grants to assist parent units to fund group welfare activities and facilities. Local commanders retain discretion to return service personnel from theatre for welfare reasons. When service personnel return from operations they receive post operational leave (20 days for a six-month tour), which enables them to spend quality time with their families and friends.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution the Government have made to the appeal to build a new gym and fitness pool for injured military personnel at the Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Mole Valley.

Derek Twigg: A new charity, Help for Heroes, with the support of a local business Arkenis, advised us in the summer of their plans to launch an appeal for funds to build a new rehabilitation complex, including a gym and swimming pool, at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court. The project would provide a very welcome enhancement of existing facilities, which currently include five gyms and a hydrotherapy pool. We are working closely with the charity to establish how we can best blend their generous offer of assistance with existing plans for improving facilities at Headley Court, a site which is itself owned by a charitable trust. This is yet another example of the third sector complimenting the work of the public sector in providing support to our people by working together.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many properties are rented as substitute service family accommodation and substitute single living accommodation in each region; and at what cost.

Derek Twigg: MOD is required to accommodate entitled personnel within 10 miles of their duty station (or 20 miles with permission of their service commander). Where no suitable service family accommodation (SFA) can be found, substitute SFA is offered within the appropriate distance from a duty station.
	Substitute single service accommodation (SSSA) is granted to entitled personnel requiring single accommodation when single living accommodation (SLA) is not available at or close to an individual's place of work.
	The following tables list all Substitute SFA and SSSA together with the monthly rent payable.
	
		
			  SSFA 
			  Location  Count  Sum of rent ( pcm) 
			 Aberdeen 4 4,900 
			 Birmingham 113 109,162 
			 Bath 15 20,954 
			 Blackburn 3 2,725 
			 Bournemouth 13 14,759 
			 Bolton 2 1,950 
			 Brighton 1 1,995 
			 Bristol 4 4,326 
			 Carlisle 4 2,436 
			 Cambridge 30 33,057 
			 Cardiff 5 4,367 
			 Chester 3 2,425 
			 Chelmsford 12 11,930 
			 Colchester 5 5,841 
			 Canterbury 12 12,181 
			 Coventry 17 15,115 
			 Dundee 2 2,200 
			 Derby 3 2,388 
			 Durham 5 3,411 
			 Darlington 5 3,515 
			 Doncaster 5 3,395 
			 Dorchester 17 14,326 
			 Dudley 2 1,570 
			 London EC 1 1,100 
			 Edinburgh 1 695 
			 Exeter 14 11,158 
			 Falkirk 7 6,473 
			 Blackpool 1 1,025 
			 Glasgow 3 4,032 
			 Gloucester 15 16,558 
			 Guilford, Surrey 1 1,825 
			 Harrow Middlesex 3 7,500 
			 Huddersfield 1 675 
			 Hemel Hempstead 52 88,898 
			 Hereford 81 57,512 
			 Hull 6 3,685 
			 Halifax, West Yorkshire 1 650 
			 Ipswich 19 18,432 
			 Kilmarnock 2 1,825 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 3 6,975 
			 Liverpool 15 14,284 
			 Lancaster 9 7,072 
			 Llandrindod Wells 3 2,118 
			 Leicester 2 1,675 
			 Llandudno 14 9,494 
			 Leeds 8 6,445 
			 Luton 3 5,395 
			 Manchester 4 3,690 
			 Medway 43 33,975 
			 Milton Keynes 13 14,109 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 18 17,949 
			 Nottingham 23 16,867 
			 Newport 12 10,249 
			 Norwich 2 2,350 
			 London NW 1 1,820 
			 Oldham 5 3,855 
			 Oxford 104 114,941 
			 Paisley 1 925 
			 Peterborough 5 6,122 
			 Plymouth 52 37,850 
			 Portsmouth 26 35,490 
			 Preston 10 7,357 
			 Reading 3 5,555 
			 Redhill 2 2,820 
			 Sheffield 6 4,104 
			 Swansea 11 7,640 
			 London SE 2 4,682 
			 Stevenage 3 3,967 
			 Stockport 6 6,245 
			 Slough 22 35,906 
			 Swindon 59 50,336 
			 Southampton 54 57,867 
			 Salisbury 64 86,084 
			 Sunderland 3 2,275 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1 675 
			 London SW 6 14,194 
			 Shrewsbury 3 3,720 
			 Taunton 5 4,889 
			 Galashiels 2 1,120 
			 Telford, Salop 1 1,500 
			 Tunbridge Wells 5 7,083 
			 Torquay 3 2,650 
			 Truro, Cornwall 38 31,217 
			 Cleveland 13 10,119 
			 Twickenham 5 15,775 
			 Uxbridge 1 2,400 
			 London W 1 2,433 
			 Warrington 11 8,822 
			 Watford 1 1,800 
			 Wakefield 7 4,605 
			 Wigan, Lancashire 2 1,625 
			 Worcester 5 5,009 
			 Walsall 2 2,319 
			 Wolverhampton 2 1,520 
			 York 8 5,945 
			 Shetland 1 520 
		
	
	
		
			  SSSA 
			  Location  Count  Sum of rent ( pcm) 
			 Aberdeen 28 16,311 
			 St. Albans 1 950 
			 Birmingham 228 176,519 
			 Bath 142 113,207 
			 Blackburn 4 2,500 
			 Bradford 4 2,505 
			 Bournemouth 5 3,730 
			 Bolton 9 6,410 
			 Brighton 13 10,565 
			 Bromley 8 8,687 
			 Bristol 440 343,391 
			 Carlisle 13 7,000 
			 Cambridge 20 16,783 
			 Cardiff 54 31,980 
			 Chester 24 16,835 
			 Chelmsford 3 2,175 
			 Colchester 17 14,350 
			 Croydon 14 11,318 
			 Canterbury 23 17,340 
			 Coventry 25 17,885 
			 Crew 2 1,195 
			 Dartford 3 2,475 
			 Dundee 18 10,555 
			 Derby 2 1,425 
			 Dumfries 5 2,500 
			 Durham 4 2,110 
			 Darlington 115 69,951 
			 Doncaster 6 3,235 
			 Dorchester 5 3,395 
			 Dudley 2 1,344 
			 London E 244 308,256 
			 London EC 8 9,891 
			 Edinburgh 51 35,299 
			 Enfield 3 2,196 
			 Exeter 22 17,374 
			 Falkirk 21 11,503 
			 Blackpool 60 37,278 
			 Glasgow 219 150,180 
			 Gloucester 15 10,788 
			 Guilford, Surrey 69 57,545 
			 Harrow Middlesex 7 6,814 
			 Huddersfield 7 3,794 
			 Harrogate 13 8,945 
			 Hemel Hempstead 3 2,330 
			 Hereford 68 53,818 
			 Hebrides 1 425 
			 Hull 19 10,312 
			 Halifax, West Yorkshire 3 1,710 
			 Ilford 6 5,775 
			 Ipswich 95 92,781 
			 Inverness 20 11,260 
			 Kilmarnock 38 23,785 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 8 8,125 
			 Kirkwall 1 525 
			 Kirkcaldy 11 6,287 
			 Liverpool 86 50,760 
			 Lancaster 119 75,421 
			 Llandrindod Wells 38 22,007 
			 Leicester 22 14,010 
			 Llandudno 35 22,190 
			 Lincoln 5 3,835 
			 Leeds 28 17,011 
			 Luton 7 4,425 
			 Manchester 43 27,235 
			 Medway 8 5,719 
			 Milton Keynes 23 25,210 
			 Motherwell 4 2,340 
			 London N 31 35,124 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 88 54,096 
			 Nottingham 27 15,944 
			 Northampton 1 625 
			 Newport 38 24,581 
			 Norwich 5 3,664 
			 London NW 59 85,210 
			 Oldham 4 2,449 
			 Oxford 47 50,953 
			 Paisley 6 3,345 
			 Peterborough 9 7,715 
			 Perth 15 8,688 
			 Plymouth 9 8,335 
			 Portsmouth 9 6,532 
			 Preston 69 43,956 
			 Reading 9 7,618 
			 Redhill 6 4,513 
			 Romford 15 12,830 
			 Sheffield 31 19,966 
			 Swansea 15 9,831 
			 London SE 202 234,305 
			 Stockport 4 2,470 
			 Slough 15 17,634 
			 Sutton 1 700 
			 Swindon 80 59,540 
			 Southampton 20 14,366 
			 Salisbury 62 48,644 
			 Sunderland 2 1,070 
			 Southend-on-Sea 4 2,829 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 19 12,678 
			 London SW 474 615,894 
			 Shrewsbury 6 4,145 
			 Taunton 27 16,768 
			 Galashiels 3 1,572 
			 Telford, Salop 1 775 
			 Tunbridge Wells 40 32,647 
			 Torquay 1 625 
			 Truro, Cornwall 15 10,415 
			 Cleveland 17 10,018 
			 Twickenham 60 62,486 
			 London W 83 95,021 
			 Warrington 15 8,486 
			 London WC 1 1,000 
			 Watford 2 1,830 
			 Wakefield 20 12,743 
			 Wigan, Lancashire 5 2,871 
			 Worcester 13 9,371 
			 Walsall 4 2,572 
			 Wolverhampton 4 2,405 
			 York 32 19,958

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 16 October 2007,  Official Report, column 937W, on armed forces housing, what plans he has for accommodation disposal in each of the next three years; and how much will be generated from each such disposal.

Derek Twigg: The majority of service families accommodation (SFA) in England and Wales is leased from Annington Homes Ltd. and properties no longer required for defence purposes are returned to the company. Although no receipt accrues to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in respect of properties returned, there are savings in rent, contributions in lieu of council tax and maintenance.
	In Scotland and Northern Ireland, surplus SFA are sold on the open market. We currently have plans to dispose of 600 properties in Scotland and 800 in Northern Ireland over the next three years.
	Overseas, the majority of SFA are returned to the host government when no longer needed, but SFA on permanent joint operations bases are owned by the MOD. When they are no longer required, the future of these properties is determined by the MOD.
	In respect of single living (barrack) accommodation (SLA), this is usually within the wire of a service establishment and the disposal normally forms part of the disposal of the wider site. Receipts cannot, therefore, be estimated specifically for SLA.
	As part of the 2007 comprehensive spending review, the Department agreed overall defence estate disposal targets (including accommodation) as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2007-08 403 
			 2008-09 176 
			 2009-10 310 
			 2010-11 296 
		
	
	It is not possible to separate out the accommodation element of these targets. Receipts from house sales will depend on market conditions at the time of sale, the area and the type of property. To release any valuations we may have carried out ahead of the sale, would, in any case, be likely to influence the market and these are thus regarded as commercially confidential until the sale is complete.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve recruitment and retention in the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: All three Services undertake numerous and varied initiatives, both at national and local level, aimed at sustaining and increasing the level of recruitment to the armed forces. Included among the many current initiatives are:
	The use of multi-media advertising campaigns, including digital media;
	Services' presentation teams' attendance at schools, careers fairs and graduate recruitment seminars, road shows, exhibitions, youth clubs and organisations;
	Specialist teams to attract doctors, dentists, nurses, lawyers and padres by promoting Service careers within specialist recruitment shows and through professional bodies;
	Work experience placements within Service establishments;
	Personal development courses and Look at Life Courses for young people who express an interest in the armed forces;
	Taster day visits to HM ships and service establishments;
	A dedicated careers website for each of the Services complete with a dedicated information support call centre;
	An Army 'on-line' recruiting office, with plans for this to be replicated by the other Services;
	Specialist ethnic minority recruiting and diversity action teams aimed at promoting armed forces careers among the UK's ethnic minority and faith communities;
	A partnership with Jobcentre Plus, making use of its network (totalling in excess of 1,100) of local outlets;
	Financial incentives, for example: Golden Helios, for those who have studied specific vocational subjects to a set level; and re-joining bounties to certain trades.
	Turning to retention; in the armed forces as a whole, retention rates are broadly stable and we have seen no sudden outflow of personnel. However, there are areas where exit rates remain too high. These areas are continuously monitored closely and focused action taken to continue to improve recruitment and retention. We continue to restructure our forces so that they can best meet operational demands. Retention measures such as commitment bonuses, re-engagement packages, financial retention initiatives and initiatives to improve work/life balance and working conditions at the front line, continue to be used with the aim of discouraging outflow. There are a number of specific initiatives currently being undertaken such as the strategic remuneration review and the defence living accommodation strategy which will contribute towards this effort. In addition, we have made improvements to travel allowances to permit personnel to get home more easily and we continue to add to the deployment welfare package, that provides additional support to people deployed on operations and their families. We have also introduced a council tax rebate for serving personnel deployed on designated operations while also promoting measures such as work/life balance and career breaks to improve the day-to-day lives of Service personnel and their families.
	The Services are also currently examining further non-financial retention measures including, in the near term, continuance of service, restructuring of trades to relieve pinch points, and being more flexible on what rank is required for a given post. Longer term work is also being carried out into the potential for easier movement between regular and reserve service, more flexible employment generally, assistance with house purchase, and any opportunities for stability a more regionalised Service might offer.

Armed Forces: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training areas in the United Kingdom place restrictions on training due to environmental concerns.

Derek Twigg: The MOD has both self imposed as well as legal restrictions placed upon training on all its training areas. Dependant upon the size, location and type of training area these restrictions may be simply to meet basic legal requirements and good practice standards, or they could be significant limitations imposed as a result of conservation designations or planning permissions. This ensures the long term sustainability of the estate.

Armed Services Capacity

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 568, on armed services capacity, if he will place in the Library a copy of the assumptions and methodology used to estimate the cost of three infantry battalions at 700 million; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: While the costs of an infantry battalion are not generally held centrally (as these figures are extensive and spread over a wide variety of budgets), a set of general assumptions on which to base an illustrative costing of adding three infantry battalions has been developed.
	These costings are dependent on the inter-relationship of a range of complex factors. Each of the assumptions that have been made is regarded as the most reasonable for indicative costing. Costs would break down broadly into two categories: the initial start-up and capital investment costs, and the annual running costs.
	Changes to these assumptions (particularly on the unit role or accommodation requirements) could result in significant changes to the overall total.
	The following assumptions informed the costing:
	Three light role infantry battalions, based in the UK, not held at high readiness and consisting of 625 personnel per battalion;
	Three new barracks (furnished and equipped to standard). It is assumed that there are no existing empty barracks that are fit for purpose in which to accommodate the battalions, and co-location on a single site is unlikely;
	The requirement for new single living accommodation (furnished and equipped to standard) (400 SLAs per battalion);
	The requirement for new service family accommodation (furnished and equipped to standard) (225 SFAs per battalion);
	Build is on land currently owned by MOD (therefore, there is no cost assumed for any requirement to purchase land);
	There are no appreciable costs to gain planning permission or prepare the sites and access to them;
	That over the period of implementation, that this will not materially change the totality of Defences demand for personal clothing and equipment;
	There is no impact on the Equipment Customer Capability Programme in that existing and programmed equipments, vehicles and communication items are whole fleet managed;
	Initial recruitment costs are based on a total of 2802 enlistments required to generate a throughput of 1,875;
	Basic and collective training costs(1);
	Annual barrack running costs estimated at 10 per cent. of cost of new build;
	Annual salary costs (pay, national insurance and pensions) based on salaries within a rank structure of a light role infantry battalion;
	No additional cost is assumed for allowances such as operational, separation and education allowances;
	No other running cost is assumed (e.g. annual recruitment and retention and other costs);
	No depreciation and cost of capital charges are assumed;
	Figures quoted are at 2007-08 prices.
	Based on these assumptions, the following costs were derived:
	
		
			million 
			  Initial start-up costs (estimated)  
			 Cost of new barracks (furnished and equipped to standard, including approximately 400 SLA per battalion) (150 million x 3) 450 
			 Cost of building additional 225 (x 3) SFA (estimated at 200,000 per SFA) 135 
			 Recruitment costs (given a recruit pass rate of only 61 per cent., a total of 2,802 enlistments are required to generate a throughput of 1,875 (625 personnel per battalion) at a cost of 12,000(2) per enlistment 34 
			 Basic training costs (29,000 per person) 54 
			 Total 673 
			   
			  Annual costs (estimated)  
			 Annual barrack running costs (estimated at 10 per cent. of cost x 3) 45 
			 Collective training costs (1 million per battalion) 3 
			 Annual salary costs (19 million x 3) 57 
			 Total 105 
			   
			 Overall total 778 
			 (1) The battalions will conduct the following collective training (CT): CT levels 1 and 2individual and sub unit training; CT level 3unit level trainingin this context it is assumed that the battalions will conduct exercises Druids Dance and Wessex Warrior. For the purposes of this exercise CT 4/5 training has been excluded (the all arms overseas training exercise in Kenya) on the assumption that there would be no increase in the incident of currently funded exercises; the key cost drivers are ammunition costs. T and S costs have been estimated as have clothing and textile costs based on usage for units in 1 (UK) Division. No account has been taken of longer separation allowance costs for training activities. (2) Costs are calculated on a full cost basis and therefore contain an element of overhead as well as fixed and variable costs.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) dates,  (b) locations and  (c) costs were of the last four awaydays of his Department's Departmental Board.

Derek Twigg: The Defence Management Board normally holds awayday meetings twice a year at Defence locations, to review in an informal setting, strategic issues facing the Department. The locations and net additional costs of the last four awaydays are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Location  Cost () 
			 6 April 2006 RAF Museum, Hendon 734 
			 4 to 5 October 2006 Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC), Shrivenham, Wiltshire 1,555 
			 28 to 29 March 2007 Officers Mess, Worthy Down Station, Winchester 651 
			 10 to 11 October 2007 HMS ALBION (Greenwich) and MOD Main Building 366 
			 Total  3,306

Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Veterans' Badges have been issued by the Veterans Agency; what estimate he has made of the number of people who are entitled to receive such badges; what plans he has for further publicity relating to the badges; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Veterans Policy Unit administered HM armed forces veterans badges from May 2004 until 17 April 2005. During this period 82,000 badges were issued. Since 18 April 2005 the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency have been responsible for the badge administration and have issued 461,212.
	Every HM armed forces veteran, approximately 4.8 million, is entitled to the HM armed forces badge. The eligibility to apply for the HM armed forces veteran's badge and UK merchant seafarers veteran's badge is advertised on the service personnel and Veterans Agency website:
	www.veteransagency.mod.uk
	It has also been publicised through Government and ex-service organisation publications, local and national press articles and through badge-presentation ceremonies. Opportunities to provide further publicity for the scheme are continually sought. Currently badge applications have been invited from personnel who served prior to 31 December 1994 and an announcement of the next extension of eligibility to apply for the badges will be made in the near future which will bring future publicity.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 39-41W, on fisheries: Navy, 
	(1)  for what reasons the recall of the river class offshore patrol vessels between 15 and 19 June 2007 due to a Davit failure was not classified as lost patrol days; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the circumstances were of the Davit failure that resulted in the three river class offshore patrol vessels being recalled; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Structural deformation of HMS Mersey's davit occurred during routine safety testing during a planned maintenance period in June 2007. In consultation with all the regulatory authorities it was concluded that a structural modification was required to ensure continued safe operation of the davits on all three vessels. The modification was completed and all three vessels were able to resume their operational duty within seven days. No further problems have been experienced.
	The programmed fishery patrol days not undertaken as a result of this maintenance period were rescheduled and the number of patrol days agreed in the contract between the MOD and DEFRA will be achieved.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capability there is for direct communication between military medical units and field hospitals in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Derek Twigg: In Iraq, direct voice communication is available between all fixed medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and the UK's role 2 (enhanced) field hospital, located at the contingency operating base, Basrah. Electronic text communication is also available through MOD's defence information infrastructure (DII).
	In Afghanistan, all MTFs have direct voice communications with the role 2 (enhanced) field hospital at camp bastion (the UK military base in Helmand Province) through either fixed or satellite communication systems. Electronic text communications facilities are available at principal operating bases.

Royal Military Academy: Army Benevolent Fund

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department charged the Army Benevolent Fund for hosting its Music on Fire event at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in September 2006.

Derek Twigg: Each application for the use of Ministry of Defence land for fund raising or other purposes is considered on its individual merits and an appropriate system of charges is applied. A charge of 7,041.01 was raised against the Army Benevolent Fund for the use of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, for the Music on Fire event held in September 2006. However, using Treasury Government Accounting Rules this figure represents an abated amount of the full costs that could have been charged.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who the members of the team conducting the review of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office are.

Derek Twigg: The UK Hydrographic Office structural and ownership options study team was lead by officials from the MOD Directorate of Business Delivery, supported by staff on loan from the UK Hydrographic Office, the Shareholder Executive and with external assistance from consultants KPMG.

United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the MOD review team has met the UK Hydrographic Office.

Derek Twigg: The study team met frequently with the UK Hydrographic Office both formally and informally over the 10-month period that the review took place.

War Pensions

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications under the  (a) War Pensions Scheme and  (b) Armed Forces Compensation Scheme have been turned down because of failure to comply with the burden of proof in each financial year since 2002-03.

Derek Twigg: Information is not held centrally as to the particular reason for rejection of a claim, under each scheme and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. No claim under either the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) will fail where the evidence shows that service is the predominant cause of the injury or illness in question.

Academy: Colchester

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on the programme to establish an academy in Colchester constituency.

Jim Knight: The Essex local authority are currently consulting on proposals to close Alderman Blaxhill school and to establish an academy on the site of the Thomas Lord Audley school. Officials from my Department have been consulted as the authority has drawn up its proposals. We believe that this may be the most appropriate way forward because we recognise that there is a need to raise standards in the area. But ultimately, the decision to close this school and to implement the proposals are matters for the local authority.

Special Educational Needs

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to help local authorities assess children with special educational needs more accurately and rapidly.

Kevin Brennan: The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice gives statutory guidance to local authorities on assessing children's SEN and sets out the timescale for doing so. We are including an indicator in the National Indicator Set on what percentage of statements local authorities finalise within the 26 week time limit. The national strategies' SEN adviser team provides support and challenge to authorities with meeting their duties in this area.

Higher Education: Academies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which universities have applied to establish academy schools.

Jim Knight: There are currently 16 universities which are sponsoring an Academy or at various stages of developing formal academy proposals. These are listed as follows. The Department is also in early discussions with a number of other universities about developing academy proposals. The number of universities which are sponsoring academies is steadily increasing and a number of others are engaged in this initiative through partnership arrangements.
	 Universities developing formal proposals
	Brunei University
	Birmingham City University (formerly University of Central England UCE)
	Coventry University
	Liverpool Hope University
	London City University
	Oxford Brookes University
	Queen Mary College
	Sheffield Hallam University
	University of Bristol
	University of Chester
	University College London
	University of Lincoln
	University of Liverpool
	University of Manchester
	University of Nottingham
	University of West of England

Primary Education: Literacy

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent assessment is of literacy standards in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Standards of literacy in our primary schools are at their highest levels ever. 100,000 more pupils a year are reaching the expected standard for their age compared with 1997.
	The renewed primary literacy strategy, with a stronger emphasis on phonics, and the national roll out of Every Child a Reader will help to ensure that we maintain and extend the improvements we have already achieved.

Secondary Education: Admissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many surplus places have been in secondary schools in each local authority area for each year from 2001-02 to 2007-08.

Jim Knight: The Department collects information from each local authority on the number of surplus school places through an annual survey. The most recent data available are for 2006. The 2007 surplus places data will be available in January 2008 on:
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/fallingschoolrolls/context/stats/.
	The number of surplus school places was not collected in 2002 to allow for a change in the method of assessing school capacity. Currently the number of school places is calculated using the net capacity method of assessment which was introduced in 2003. Prior to 2003 the capacity of a school was calculated using the MOE (more open enrolment) method.
	The following table shows the number of surplus places in maintained secondary schools calculated by the net capacity method of assessment between 2003 and 2006 and the MOE method in 2001.
	
		
			  Secondary surplus school places 
			   2001  2003  200 4  2005  2006 
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Barking and Dagenham 467 4 604 0 614 5 458 4 374 3 
			 Barnet 639 3 960 4 1,310 6 1,408 7 1,108 6 
			 Barnsley 1,223 9 805 6 658 5 1,016 7 882 6 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 721 6 843 6 811 6 783 6 943 7 
			 Bedfordshire 4,121 10 3,060 8 2,760 7 2,643 7 2,866 7 
			 Bexley 2,195 11 812 4 732 4 676 4 1,543 8 
			 Birmingham 4,195 6 2,998 4 2,570 4 2,681 4 2,747 4 
			 Blackburn 610 6 795 8 590 6 713 7 456 5 
			 Blackpool 286 4 335 4 415 5 368 4 419 5 
			 Bolton 487 3 373 2 386 2 472 2 523 3 
			 Bournemouth 1,026 10 490 5 480 5 590 6 597 6 
			 Bracknell Forest 801 12 895 13 828 12 845 12 782 11 
			 Bradford 2,775 8 2,992 8 2,185 6 2,903 8 2,681 7 
			 Brent 1,317 9 1,185 7 1,677 10 1,513 9 1,234 7 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,167 9 889 7 1,091 8 1,210 9 611 5 
			 Bristol 1,568 8 2,039 11 2,121 12 1,817 10 2,245 13 
			 Bromley 442 2 480 2 454 2 841 4 989 4 
			 Buckinghamshire 901 3 1,257 4 1,184 3 1,042 3 1,070 3 
			 Bury 220 2 253 2 281 2 228 2 435 4 
			 Calderdale 789 5 497 3 424 3 550 4 877 5 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,364 4 3,236 9 2,604 7 2,638 7 2,755 8 
			 Camden 909 8 84 1 99 1 284 3 155 2 
			 Cheshire 3,149 7 2,837 6 2,886 6 2,748 6 3,272 7 
			 Cornwall 200 1 1,376 4 1,578 5 1,691 5 1,964 6 
			 Corporation of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Coventry 1,645 7 1,542 7 1,627 6 1,761 8 1,623 7 
			 Croydon 1,277 7 1,923 10 1,993 10 2,079 10 2,277 11 
			 Cumbria 4,016 11 4,207 11 2,458 7 2,506 7 2,485 7 
			 Darlington 421 7 548 8 427 6 493 7 412 6 
			 Derby 2,158 13 755 5 799 5 854 5 843 5 
			 Derbyshire 3,918 8 3,117 6 2,879 6 2,827 6 2,510 5 
			 Devon 1,519 4 1,523 4 1,437 3 2,314 5 1,732 4 
			 Doncaster 1,205 5 1,712 7 1,680 7 1,739 7 1,956 9 
			 Dorset 2,248 7 1,731 5 1,808 6 1,633 5 3,067 9 
			 Dudley 724 7 595 3 544 3 537 3 711 3 
			 Durham 2,916 8 4,079 11 3,450 10 3,779 11 3,973 11 
			 Ealing 242 2 666 4 405 3 476 3 504 3 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,026 5 1,011 4 1,265 5 1,261 5 1,303 5 
			 East Sussex 1,036 4 1,670 6 1,759 6 2,085 7 1,891 6 
			 Enfield 2,873 12 2,326 10 887 4 578 3 493 2 
			 Essex 6,616 7 6,003 6 5,331 6 5,403 6 6,125 6 
			 Gateshead 551 5 972 8 1,051 8 1,120 9 1,079 8 
			 Gloucestershire 2,043 5 2,737 6 2,502 6 2,423 6 2,381 6 
			 Greenwich 1,323 9 1,905 12 1,461 9 1,481 9 1,552 10 
			 Hackney 858 10 931 11 501 6 530 7 1,108 14 
			 Halton 1,162 12 383 4 494 6 635 7 710 8 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 488 7 1,369 18 1,305 16 1,200 16 1,363 18 
			 Hampshire 5,200 7 5,001 7 5,145 7 5,288 7 5,271 7 
			 Haringey 1,471 11 698 6 1,062 9 884 7 303 3 
			 Harrow 851 9 283 3 293 3 300 3 283 3 
			 Hartlepool 709 10 629 9 697 9 249 4 322 5 
			 Havering 931 6 974 6 771 5 832 5 818 5 
			 Herefordshire 1,085 10 495 5 405 4 398 4 520 5 
			 Hertfordshire 9,632 12 9,832 11 9,419 11 5,948 7 7,554 9 
			 Hillingdon 1,188 7 1,133 6 910 5 650 4 791 5 
			 Hounslow 545 3 441 3 390 2 430 3 846 5 
			 Isle of Scilly 36 23 1,543 11 1,497 11 1,397 10 1,564 11 
			 Isle of Wight 775 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington 793 10 589 7 559 7 770 9 703 8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 583 14 202 5 221 6 215 6 198 5 
			 Kent 7,623 8 6,915 7 7,027 7 7,217 7 7,127 7 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull 1,915 11 1,070 6 942 6 1,568 9 1,451 8 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 631 7 619 7 543 6 442 5 518 5 
			 Kirklees 2,279 8 2,989 10 2,698 9 2,691 9 2,428 8 
			 Knowsley 1,395 12 1,768 15 1,848 15 1,761 15 2,105 18 
			 Lambeth 1,656 19 762 10 556 7 307 4 293 4 
			 Lancashire 5,773 7 4,816 6 4,664 6 5,106 6 5,893 7 
			 Leeds 3,545 7 3,647 7 3,861 8 2,541 5 2,535 5 
			 Leicester 943 5 744 4 818 4 1,133 6 1,212 6 
			 Leicestershire 3,157 7 1,816 4 1,900 4 1,976 4 2,349 5 
			 Lewisham 1,826 14 711 6 924 7 1,244 11 1,178 10 
			 Lincolnshire 4,197 9 3,533 7 2,781 6 2,634 5 2,617 5 
			 Liverpool 3,112 9 2,286 6 2,839 8 3,161 9 3,516 10 
			 Luton 426 4 344 3 400 3 652 5 728 6 
			 Manchester 1,943 8 1,614 6 1,654 7 1,586 6 1,893 8 
			 Medway 2,928 13 1,649 8 1,471 7 1,515 7 1,938 9 
			 Merton 1,312 15 870 9 1,037 11 1,356 14 1,683 17 
			 Middlesbrough 787 8 797 10 440 7 531 9 601 10 
			 Milton Keynes 1,728 13 1,542 11 1,701 12 1,425 10 1,731 11 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,004 10 1,427 7 1,800 9 1,748 9 1,422 8 
			 Newham 1,323 7 1,326 7 1,419 7 1,560 8 1,987 10 
			 Norfolk 3,020 7 2,939 6 3,723 8 3,811 8 3,908 8 
			 North East Lincolnshire 838 7 931 7 1,074 8 1,502 12 1,775 14 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,027 9 1,167 10 1,093 9 1,126 9 989 8 
			 North Somerset 691 5 250 2 213 2 247 2 263 2 
			 North Tyneside 1,770 12 826 6 803 6 862 6 1,075 7 
			 North Yorkshire 1,675 4 3,417 8 3,105, 7 2,984 7 3,259 7 
			 Northamptonshire 3,501 7 4,598 8 5,817 11 2,173 5 2,239 5 
			 Northumberland 3,254 10 2,465 8 2,690 8 2,270 7 2,544 8 
			 Nottinghamshire 7,984 13 1,540 10 1,513 10 1,625 11 2,222 14 
			 Nottingham 3,529 21 3,670 7 3,335 6 3,702 6 4,210 7 
			 Oldham 1,134 7 888 5 732 4 760 5 1,046 6 
			 Oxfordshire 4,749 11 2,341 6 3,878 9 4,429 10 4,529 11 
			 Peterborough 1,238 9 1,898 13 2,037 14 1,958 13 2,210 14 
			 Plymouth 795 4 863 5 865 5 455 2 588 17 
			 Poole 676 8 205 2 160 2 201 2 244 3 
			 Portsmouth 179 2 802 7 857 8 1,036 10 1,099 10 
			 Reading 1,235 16 854 12 898 13 1,029 15 1,065 15 
			 Redbridge 649 3 1,245 6 1,164 6 796 4 755 4 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,430 12 1,204 11 1,016 9 586 6 509 5 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 569 7 359 5 620 8 663 8 780 10 
			 Rochdale 1,434 9 1,224 8 1,198 8 1,352 9 1,415 9 
			 Rotherham 1,383 7 1,312 6 1,085 5 1,098 5 1,102 5 
			 Rutland 234 10 345 13 311 12 317 12 268 10 
			 Salford 2,234 15 2,154 15 1,484 11 1,726 12 1,571 12 
			 Sandwell 2,551 12 1,917 9 1,677 8 1,198 6 1,548 7 
			 Sefton 1,280 6 874 4 1,037 5 1,283 6 1,697 8 
			 Sheffield 1,102 4 700 2 595 2 683 2 815 3 
			 Shropshire 588 3 573 3 626 3 814 4 959 5 
			 Slough 333 4 309 4 158 2 312 4 366 4 
			 Solihull 277 2 164 1 232 1 652 4 778 5 
			 Somerset 2,864 9 2,550 7 1,107 3 1,124 3 970 3 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,285 7 1,462 8 1,466 8 2,092 11 2,795 14 
			 South Tyneside 1,161 10 1,461 12 1,526 13 1,128 10 1,298 12 
			 Southampton 658 5 1,478 11 1,376 10 1,625 12 2,347 17 
			 Southend-on-Sea 695 6 638 5 847 6 770 6 611 5 
			 Southwark 1,148 11 686 6 328 3 175 2 205 2 
			 St. Helens 1,000 8 298 2 231 2 317 3 406 3 
			 Staffordshire 899 2 2,602 4 1,916 3 2,682 4 2,978 5 
			 Stockport 1,171 7 794 5 754 4 1,081 6 876 5 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 668 5 839 6 1,190 9 1,253 9 1,063 8 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 934 6 487 3 546 4 766 5 1,072 7 
			 Suffolk 4,610 8 4,957 8 4,746 8 5,504 9 6,076 10 
			 Sunderland 983 5 2,146 10 2,384 11 2,933 13 3,150 14 
			 Surrey 3,737 7 3,706 6 2,347 4 3,559 6 3,566 6 
			 Sutton 670 5 598 4 521 3 479 3 782 5 
			 Swindon 352 3 877 7 934 8 1,133 9 963 8 
			 Tameside 1,064 7 808 5 654 4 632 4 850 5 
			 Telford 789 8 854 8 775 7 973 9 1,096 10 
			 Thurrock 957 11 760 9 500 6 367 4 413 5 
			 Torbay 238 3 145 2 891 9 1,024 10 1,145 11 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,028 7 1,424 9 1,240 8 1,407 9 907 6 
			 Trafford 1,053 6 993 6 855 5 1,022 6 1,410 8 
			 Wakefield 1,096 5 614 3 584 3 674 3 837 4 
			 Walsall 1,504 7 998 4 1,120 5 1,134 5 1,196 5 
			 Waltham Forest 884 7 980 7 889 6 782 5 997 7 
			 Wandsworth 465 5 679 6 758 7 948 9 980 9 
			 Warrington 492 4 395 3 401 3 564 4 655 5 
			 Warwickshire 2,712 8 2,652 7 2,495 7 2,614 7 2,790 8 
			 West Berkshire 331 3 330 3 315 3 446 4 432 3 
			 West Sussex 4,374 9 3,804 8 3,369 7 4,664 9 3,858 8 
			 Westminster 697 9 840 9 610 7 511 6 625 7 
			 Wigan 1,161 6 1,441 7 1,022 5 1,384 6 1,761 8 
			 Wiltshire 2,643 9 3,974 12 3,919 12 4,115 12 3,167 10 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 314 3 524 5 417 4 493 5 759 7 
			 Wirral 2,325 9 1,472 6 1,197 5 2,025 8 2,572 10 
			 Wokingham 38 0 316 3 340 3 ,475 4 588 5 
			 Wolverhampton 1,171 7 1,713 9 1,312 7 2,153 11 2,224 12 
			 Worcestershire 4,285 12 2,589 6 2,618 6 2,635 6 3,044 7 
			 York 779 11 608 6 539 5 508 5 815 7 
			 Total 250,733 7 231,391 7 220,528 6 227,168 7 244,111 7 
			  Note: Number of places relate to position as at January.  Source: Surplus Places Survey

Broadband: Scotland

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of people without access to broadband services in Scotland, broken down by constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department has not compiled such estimates.
	The Scottish Executive's research on broadband reach in Scotland, published in December 2006, estimates that between 7,000 and 25,000 homes cannot access DSL bandwidths in excess of 512Kb/s. These are scattered throughout Scotland, but where local conditions affect a number of premises in the same way, there is some evidence of clustering, and the Scottish Executive is aware of around 50 such clusters (of 10 or more people).

Coal Fired Power Stations

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many proposed coal burning power plants are under consideration for approval by his Department; what account his Department takes of likely levels of carbon dioxide emissions from such plants in the approval process; and what estimate he has made of the likely percentage of UK carbon dioxide emissions which will come from such plants in 2020.

Malcolm Wicks: One. The Environmental Impact Assessment which accompanies any such application includes an assessment of atmospheric emissions and this is taken into account before any decision is taken.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of permanent new local jobs which would be created by the new coal power station at Kingsnorth.

Malcolm Wicks: E.ON currently employs over 160 staff with approximately another 90 on a contract basis at the existing Kingsnorth power station. E.ON estimate that a similar number of staff will be required for the proposed new coal fired station.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the expected date for installation of carbon capture and storage at the proposed new coal power station at Kingsnorth is.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has yet to make a decision on whether to grant consent to construct a new coal fired station at Kingsnorth. It would therefore be wrong for me to indicate a timing for the installation of carbon capture plant as that could be seen as pre-empting his decision.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the likely level of carbon dioxide emissions from the proposed coal power plant at Kingsnorth; and of the likely proportion of UK carbon dioxide emissions which will come from the plant in 2020.

Malcolm Wicks: Working at maximum output it is estimated by the developer that the proposed station would produce 8.06 MTe of CO2, compared with 10.9 MTe CO2 from the existing coal-fired station. I have made no estimate of the likely proportion of emissions in 2020 nor has the Secretary of State taken a decision on the planning application.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the existing plant at Kingsnorth will operate alongside the proposed new coal power station at Kingsnorth between 2012 and 2015.

Malcolm Wicks: No. The developer intends that the existing coal fired station will be decommissioned if the new station is consented and built.

Corporate Hospitality

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many dinners were provided for his Department's Ministers and officials by external solicitors in each of the last seven years.

Malcolm Wicks: The records of formal business meetings between solicitors and officials from the Department are not held centrally.
	With respect to the Coal Health Compensation Schemes, we are not aware of any Ministers for whom dinners were provided. Officials have had formal business with solicitors conducted through normal business meetings. I understand that there were occasions when officials involved in such meetings had dinner with some solicitors. However, we don't have comprehensive records of these occasions.

Electricity Generation: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding his Department has allocated to electricity generation projects using  (a) tidal power,  (b) wave power,  (c) wind,  (d) biomass,  (e) hydro power,  (f) gas and  (g) coal.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is as follows.
	 Renewables
	Department expenditure on R and D on renewable energy technologies from 1996, is set out at table 1.
	In addition renewable electricity generation projects receive support under the Renewables Obligation (RO). However, this is not direct Government funding, instead the RO places an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers to source a specific and annually increasing proportion of their sales from renewable sources.
	The RO along with exemption from the climate change levy will be worth around l billion per year in support to the renewables industry by 2010.
	 Coal
	The Government are launching a competition to support the first commercial-scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project using post-combustion capture on a coal-fired power station in the world.
	Key objectives of the demonstration competition in the UK are: to deliver a successful demonstration of the full chain of CCS technologies on a power plant at a commercial scale; and demonstrate technology that is relevant and transferable to key global marketsparticularly in emerging economies.
	Funding outlines for this project will be available in due course.
	 Gas
	There is no Government funding allocated to electricity generation projects using gas.
	
		
			  Table 1: DTI renewable energy R and D expenditure 
			   
			   1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Bioenergy 2,575,853 1,464,922 1,193,500 1,664,159 1,353,942 1,348,962 
			 Hydrogen 141,884 56,950 79,965 137,731 60,269 129,626 
			 Solar/PV 1,889,415 1,672,937 1,006,877 1,282,761 1,265,798 1,522,106 
			 Wave and tidal 54,865 7,670 95,649 20,442 360,849 968,033 
			 Wind 2,377,360 1,246,222 957,769 808,587 912,822 1,247,901 
		
	
	
		
			   
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004 -05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Bioenergy 1,637,073 1,604,705 974,222 879,123 301,055 
			 Hydrogen 200,391 85,244 33,045  8,088 
			 Solar/PV 4,484,914 3,130,705 1,970,338 1,782,327 1,127,622 
			 Wave and tidal 2,744,782 5,018,572 1,235,488 1,655,194 2,257,894 
			 Wind 1,427,651 1,394,696 1,459,598 1,136,774 844,752

Export Credit Guarantees: Sakhalin Island

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on the environmental sustainability of the Sakhalin II project; what factors will be taken into account in deciding whether to provide an export credits guarantee for the project; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: ECGD has received submissions from a number of interested parties about the environmental impacts of the Sakhalin II project. These will be taken into account in accordance with ECGD's published Case Impact Analysis Process:
	www.ecgd.gov.uk
	In considering support for the project ECGD will apply its normal underwriting policy and its business principles. Relevant factors include financial, technical and environmental aspects of the project.
	ECGD has not yet completed its assessment. A note of decision will be published in due course.

Franco-British Nuclear Forum

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the status of the Franco-British Nuclear Forum is.

Malcolm Wicks: The Franco-British Nuclear Forum was announced following the then Prime Minister's meeting with the then President of the French Republic in June 2006. The announcement said that:
	We have agreed to explore and further develop the opportunities of working together in the civil nuclear field. To that end we have agreed to establish a regular Franco-British Nuclear Forum, involving representatives from government, industry and technical experts. The Forum will provide a vehicle to discuss Franco-British nuclear cooperation, including research, skills, decommissioning and waste management.
	The work of the forum is ongoing.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he has had any recent discussions with ministerial colleagues on freezing or reducing fuel duty to assist businesses.

Malcolm Wicks: Fuel duty rates are set by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Budget 2007 announced fuel duty rates for the next three yearsfor environmental reasons, to fund public services and provide certainty alongside the other tax reforms in this Budget.
	The Government recognise businesses' concerns over fuel duty rates and continues to support the industry with other measures:
	From 1 October 2007, the Reduced Pollution Certificate scheme has been extended so that hauliers buying a Euro V compliant vehicle up to 31 September 2009 can claim a discount of up to 500 a year on vehicle excise duty (VED).
	VED rates for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have been frozen since 2001 and the Government have now announced that they will continue to be frozen in 2008-09.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department takes in circumstances where Vendside refuses to transfer files to a solicitor as requested by a claimant for miner's compensation.

Malcolm Wicks: It is not within the Department's remit to require Vendside to transfer files to a claimant's legal representatives. The claimants' legal representatives are best placed to advise their clients of their options.
	The Claims Management Regulation regime established by the Compensation Act 2006 provides the statutory framework for the regulation of claims management activities. Further information can be found on the Claims Management Regulations website on: http://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/index.aspx. Complaints about the on-going behaviours of claims handlers such as Vendside could be referred to the Claims Management Regulator.
	Alternatively, complaints about Vendside's refusal to disclose data could be made to the Information Commissioner.

Insolvency: Fees and Charges

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to bring forward proposals to reform legislation governing insolvencies and the fees levied by liquidators in the administration thereof.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 6 December 2007
	We are looking to introduce a new individual insolvency procedure, the debt relief order (DRO) from April 2009, the framework for which is set out in the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. DROs are aimed at people who owe relatively little, have very low incomes, few, if any, assets and have no way to pay their debts because they are financially excluded from existing remedies. In order to obtain a DRO the debtor will need to pay one up-front fee that will be set at a level to cover the official receiver's costs of administering the case and no more. The precise level is yet to be determined but it will be significantly less than the deposit required on presentation of a bankruptcy petition and no further fees will be payable in such cases.
	We have also been consulting extensively on proposals to augment the existing individual voluntary arrangement regime (IVA) with a simplified version of the IVA for those with undisputed debts of less than 75,000. The necessary legislative changes to give effect to this are planned to come into force from October 2008.
	Work is also being undertaken to consolidate and modernise the insolvency secondary legislation including the insolvency rules themselves, which set out the detailed procedures for the various insolvency processes. The changes proposed include changes to the mechanism by which insolvency office-holders have their remuneration and expenses agreed by creditors. These changes are intended to increase transparency and accountability by requiring insolvency office-holders to have their remuneration and expenses agreed by creditors. These changes are intended to increase transparency and accountability by requiring insolvency office-holders to provide information on remuneration taken, on a regular basis. Creditors will be given new powers to request further and better particulars in respect of remuneration charged and expenses incurred, together with clearer rights to challenge those amounts in court where they consider them to be excessive.

Nuclear Installations Inspectorate: Recruitment

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many additional specialist personnel the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate intends to recruit to undertake the work to approve four alternative designs of nuclear reactors within three years.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 13 December 2007
	 The nuclear regulators, which include the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) of the Health and Safety Executive, will apply their resources to ensure that a rigorous approach is taken to the generic design assessment (GDA) process. If the outcome of the consultation on the Future of Nuclear Power is that private sector companies should be allowed to invest in new nuclear power stations, the NII will need to take on additional staff as the assessment process progresses. The number of specialist personnel the NII will require to undertake the process is a matter for them.
	Although four designs are currently being assessed in the initial stage of GDA, we set out in the consultation document that if more than three designs remain viable following this stage, then a prioritisation process will need to be run to select no more than three designs to proceed to the detailed stage of the assessments. Depending on the outcome of the nuclear consultation, we will announce the detail of how this prioritisation process would operate in due course.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his policy is on the future use of fast breeder reactors in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: We have not yet reached a decision on the future of nuclear power following our nuclear consultation which ended on 10 October.
	In the event that, following the consultation, the Government decide to allow private sector energy companies to build new nuclear power stations, then it would be for the private sector to bring forward proposals for new reactors and for the regulators to be assured of the safety, security and environmental emissions of a design before it can be licensed.
	Fast breeder reactors are currently a long way off in terms of being able to be deployed on a commercial scale and thus, none are going through the first steps of the generic design assessment process.

Nuclear Power Stations: Public Participation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many UK citizens had their views directly solicited in respect of plans for an increased number of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We intended our public consultation, on whether it is in the public interest to give private sector energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations, to hear from a wide range of different people across the UK. To that end, as well as publishing a consultation document, we advertised the consultation in the press; held meetings for interested organisations, which were attended by a total of about 400 representatives; held meetings near existing nuclear facilities attended by a total of about 200 people; and held nine day-long events attended by about 1,000 members of the general public. We also sent direct mail to over 5,000 community organisations, and placed copies of the document together with a poster in public libraries. In addition to the views expressed at the meetings, we received over 2,700 written responses from individuals and organisations. Following consideration of these responses we will announce our decision in the new year.

Nuclear Power: Radioactive Wastes

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what projections he has made of annual volumes of  (a) high,  (b) intermediate and  (c) low level nuclear waste that may arise from the introduction of a new generation of nuclear power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: It is the Government's position that, if we conclude private sector energy companies should be allowed to invest in nuclear power, it would be for private sector energy companies to bring forward plans to build any new nuclear power stations. This means that we cannot be sure of the number or design of stations that might be proposed, nor of the volumes of waste that could arise.
	In the consultation document, The Future of Nuclear Power, we considered an example scenario that had been referenced in the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management's (CoRWM) Inventory Report which would rather more than replace existing nuclear capacity. For this estimated scenario, the CoRWM Inventory Report summary information document shows that it would, over the lifetime of the new stations, add 8 per cent. to the UK's existing volume of radioactive waste.
	In the event that the Government conclude in favour of allowing private sector energy companies to invest in new nuclear power stations, we will continue to explore these issues as part of our programme of facilitative actions.

Nuclear Reactors

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether it is his policy to require the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to establish commercial demand from utility companies for each of the nuclear reactor types they are assessing.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 13 December 2007
	 The approach of the regulators (which includes the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate) to Generic Design Assessment (GDA) of new nuclear reactor designs is to provide a rigorous and structured examination of the safety, security and environmental aspects of possible new nuclear reactor designs. Before GDA began, we carried out a prioritisation process to ensure that the regulators could focus their resources on those designs that have the greatest chance of being built. This process required all applicants for GDA to have the support of a credible nuclear power operator. The result of this process was that four designs are being assessed in the initial stage of GDA.
	As we set out in the consultation document, if more than three designs remain viable following this stage, then a prioritisation process will need to be run to select no more than three designs to proceed to the detailed stage of the assessments. This second stage of prioritisation would also take account of the designs' likelihood of being deployed in the UK by 2016-22. We will announce the detail of how this prioritisation process would operate in due course. This prioritisation will only be necessary if the outcome of the consultation on the future of nuclear power is that private sector companies should be allowed to invest in new nuclear power stations.

Oil

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what studies have been  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated by his Department on the peak oil phenomenon; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is aware of a wide range of academic and industry studies which look at future world oil supplies, including the peak oil phenomenon, and meets regularly with experts to discuss this and other oil market issues.
	The Government's assessment are that the world's oil resources are sufficient to prevent total global oil production peaking before 2030. This is consistent with the assessment made by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its 2007 World Energy Outlook (WEO).

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what proportion of members of each trades union with a political fund have exercised their right to opt out of the political levy, according to records held by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Certification Officer.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 13 December 2007
	The Department does not hold records of its own regarding the numbers who opt out of paying the political levy.
	The Certification Officer has provided the following figures. These are based on the latest returns made to the Certification Officer by the relevant trade unions. The proportion of members who have exercised their right to opt out of the political levy is calculated against members contributing to the union rather than the total number of members.
	
		
			  Name  Total number of union members contributing to General Fund  Number of members who have completed an exemption notice and therefore do not contribute to the Political Fund  Number of members who have completed an exemption notice and therefore do not contribute to the Political Fund as a percentage 
			 Amicus 807,200 158,331 19.6 
			 Aspect 3,969 68 1.7 
			 Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen 17,944 319 1.8 
			 Association of Revenue and Customs 2,594 83 3.2 
			 Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union 24,564 0 0.0 
			 Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union 26,543 155 0.6 
			 Communication Workers Union 238,817 25,883 10.8 
			 Community 29,117 2,977 10.2 
			 Connect; The Union for Professionals in Communications 19,473 5,154 26.5 
			 Educational Institute of Scotland 58,829 1,245 2.1 
			 Fire Brigades Union 45,839 9,016 19.7 
			 GMB 575,892 26,141 4.5 
			 Musicians Union 32,641 644 2.0 
			 National Association of Colliery Deputies and Shotfirers 336 0 0.0 
			 National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Woman Teachers 251,763 9 0.0 
			 National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education 62,023 2,507 4.0 
			 National Union of Mineworkers 7,418 112 1.5 
			 National Union of Mineworkers North Western Cheshire and Cumbria Miners Association 17 0 0.0 
			 National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers 65,399 433 0.7 
			 POA 35,772 4 0.0 
			 Prospect 90,456 230 0.3 
			 Transport and General Workers Union 670,430 28,985 4.3 
			 Transport Salaried Staffs' Association 30,570 2,019 6.6 
			 Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians 124,217 16,942 13.6 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 2,268 0 0.0 
			 Union of Shop Distributive and 341,291 17,742 5.2 
			 Allied Workers
			 UNISON: The Public Services Union 1,343,000 20,389 1.5 
			 Unity 7,239 130 1.8 
			 Total 4,915,621 319,518 6.5

Political Levy

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which trades unions with political funds offer discounted membership or a rebate to union members who opt out of the political levy.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 13 December 2007
	 Where trade union members opt out of contributing to their union's political fund, the union must ensure that they do not make payments into the political fund and their payments to the union must be set or adjusted accordingly. There are no grounds to believe that trade unions with political funds are failing to comply with these legal requirements.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what arrangements his Department uses to  (a) monitor and  (b) track nuclear waste materials; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	For the purposes of this question nuclear waste materials will be taken to mean irradiated nuclear fuel (INF) which is transported by rail from nuclear power stations to Sellafield in Cumbria.
	The transport of all radioactive material, including INF, is governed by the stringent internationally-agreed standards recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an agency appointed by the United Nations to oversee all aspects of the peaceful uses of atomic energy worldwide.
	Packages (flasks) used to transport INF are designed to withstand a very severe impact followed by severe fire. The safety of INF shipments is therefore secured by the design and build quality of the packages used and not by the particular mode of transport used or route travelled. The Department for Transport (DfT) is required to ensure that the design of INF flasks meets the IAEA standards and issues approval certificates to this effect.
	 (a) In addition to approving the design of flasks, monitoring activities regarding the transport of INF carried out by the DfT consist of:
	(i) The commissioning of reports on the radiological impact of the transport of radioactive material under normal and abnormal conditions. The latest report looking at the rail transport of INF under normal conditions is Survey into the Radiological Impact of the Normal Transport of Radioactive Material in the UK by Road and Rail, NRPB-W66. Reports detailing abnormal events involving the transport of radioactive material in the UK have been published annually since 1989 the latest being Radiological Consequences Resulting from Accidents and Incidents Involving the Transport of Radioactive Materials in the UK2005 Review, HPA-RPD-021. Copies of these and similar reports have been placed in the House Libraries and recent ones are available via the DfT website at the following address:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/dgt1/guidance/guidance7class/theradiologicalimpactofthetr1178
	The conclusion of these reports is that the radiological impact of INF transport is low.
	(ii) Periodic radiological surveys of the extent of radioactive contamination on the external surfaces of INF flasks. These surveys are carried out by suitable qualified and experienced personnel working under contract to the DfT and are an independent check to those routinely carried out by the industry. These surveys confirm that incidences of external contamination in excess of the regulatory limits are low and their radiological impact is minimal. Events where the industry has reported contamination in excess of the regulatory limits are detailed in the reports referred to in (i) above.
	(iii) Compliance assurance audits of organisations and their Quality management systems involved in the transport of INF.
	 (b) A condition of being approved by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), part of the Health and Safety Executive, is that all carriers must meet Regulatory or defined requirements which require all such movements to be notified to OCNS at least 7 days in advance of the proposed date of transport and to be tracked throughout the course of the transport.
	In the case of INF transported by train, such tracking is carried out by one or more of the following methods:
	(i) Train Operations Processing System (TOPS). TOPS is a UK rail network-wide computerised system managed by Network Rail which records the expected and actual passing time of all trains. TOPS monitors trains along their preset routes and, in this case, alerts whenever a train is delayed by more than 60 seconds or deviates from its set route,
	(ii) Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite tracking, monitored by the carrier in accordance with parameters set by OCNS.
	(iii) Mobile phone communications, again monitored by the carrier in accordance with parameters set by OCNS.

Severn Barrage

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what feasibility studies have been commissioned by his Department into the possibility of  (a) a tidal barrage and  (b) tidal lagoons in the Severn Estuary since the Sustainable Development Commission published its report, Turning the Tide: Tidal Power in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 December 2007
	 On 21 September my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a new feasibility study that will look at the potential for tidal power in the Severn Estuary.
	The detailed remit of the feasibility study is now being scoped and a statement on this will be made early in the new year.

Small Businesses: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many small businesses in London applied for small business tax relief in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply 
	as Minister responsible for business rates.
	The information requested is not available. However, as at 31 December 2006, there were 43,100 businesses in London that were in receipt of small business rate relief.

Data Protection

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the terms of reference are of the review into data sharing in the public sector.

Gillian Merron: The terms of reference for the review Sir Gus O'Donnell is leading on data handling procedures in Government are:
	To examine:
	the procedures in Departments and agencies for the protection of data
	their consistency with current Government-wide policies and standards;
	the arrangements for ensuring that procedures are being fully and properly implemented;
	and to make recommendations on improvements that should be made

Departmental Correspondence

John Horam: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidelines he has provided to Government Departments on responding to letters and e-mails from  (a) members of the public and  (b) hon. and right hon. Members (i) acknowledging receipt of the correspondence and (ii) giving the time allowed for a substantive answer to be sent.

Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 22 October 2007,  Official Report, column 45W.

Departmental ICT

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many attempted hacking or suspected cyber attacks or other malicious computer security breaches were committed against the computer systems at No. 10 Downing street in each of the last three years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many attempted breaches of  (a) Government and  (b) private systems as a result of cyber-based espionage were recorded in the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences.

Departmental Manpower

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the full-time equivalent headcount in his Department is; what the forecast full-time equivalent headcount for his Department is for  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: Full-time equivalent headcounts for every Department, including the Cabinet Office, are published on a quarterly basis by the Office for National Statistics as part of their reporting on Civil Service statistics. At the end of the third quarter of 2007 the Office for National Statistics reported that the Cabinet Office (excluding agencies) employed 1270 full-time equivalents.
	The Cabinet Office expects to deliver sufficient efficiencies to reach the full-time equivalent headcount target set for the Department in Spending Review 2004.
	No formal forecast of full-time equivalent headcount has been made for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years. For planning purposes the Department has assumed that there is likely to be a slight decline in full-time equivalent headcount numbers after 31 March 2008, reflecting the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.

Departmental Manpower

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of posts in  (a) his Department,  (b) No. 10 Downing street and  (c) the Office of the Leader of the House were recategorised from back office to frontline posts as classified by the Gershon efficiency review in each year since 2004.

Gillian Merron: No. 10 Downing street and the Office of the Leader of the House are part of the Cabinet Office. The majority of the posts in the Cabinet Office are posts that are categorised as Policy, Funding and Regulation posts under the definitions used by the 2004 Gershon Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency. Neither the Gershon Review nor the Government response to that review set any target on the move of back office posts into frontline delivery for the Cabinet Office or the Office of the Leader of the House, and there have been no posts either categorised or re-categorised as either back office or frontline posts since 2004.

Freedom of Information: Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what fields of data there are in the Cabinet Office Freedom of Information database.

Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office has a case management system to assist in the processing of correspondence received, including Freedom of Information requests. The fields of data include the type of correspondence, the date received and, the date on which a response is due.

Illegal Immigrants

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many illegal immigrants have been discovered working for  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons in the last year for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: In the 12 month period 1 December 2006 to 30 November 2007, the Department discovered that one individual engaged through a work permit on a fee paid basis was an overstayer and the individual's contract was terminated with immediate effect.

Legislation: Public Participation

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much has been spent on  (a) advertising and  (b) conducting the Government's consultation on its draft legislative programme.

Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office has spent 85,070 on the production of the Green Paper 'The Governance of Britain: The Government's Draft Legislative Programme' and the day long deliberative forum on the draft legislative programme.

Manpower: Prime Minister

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when a response will be sent to the letter of 19 September from the hon. Member for North Norfolk on Downing Street staff and requesting an internal review of a response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Edward Miliband: The internal review requested by the hon. Member for North Norfolk into his freedom of information request is underway and a response will be issued shortly.

Members' Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many letters his Department received from hon. Members and Peers in each session of Parliament since 1997.

Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. Information relating to 2007 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2006 was published on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 101-04WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

Office of the Third Sector: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the budget of the Office of the Third Sector was in  (a) each of the last five years and  (b) each year of the 2007 comprehensive spending review period.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Third Sector was established in May 2006. The budget of the Office of the Third Sector since its inception is:
	
		
			   Budget ( million) 
			 2006-07 135.1 
			 2007-08 135.8 
		
	
	The budgets for each year of the spending review is as follows:
	
		
			   Budget ( million) 
			 2008-09 168.7 
			 2009-10 172.3 
			 2010-11 176.0

Repairs and Maintenance: Greater London

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many planning applications the Cabinet Office has submitted for permission for work to its properties in London in the last 12 months; to what building the applications pertained; and what the purpose was of the applications.

Edward Miliband: Information on how many planning applications the Cabinet Office has submitted for permission for work to its properties in London in the last 12 months; to what building the applications pertained; and what the purpose was of the applications, can be found at the Westminster city council website
	http://www.westminster.gov.uk/environment/planning/applications/search/

Strategy Unit

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2007,  Official Report, column 396W, on the Strategy Unit, what time-limited projects are being undertaken by the unit; and what the  (a) start date and  (b) expected end date of each such project is.

Gillian Merron: The Strategy Unit has been working on two time-limited projects since July 2007: joint work with the Department for Children, Schools and Families on childhood wellbeing in support of the Children's Plan, published on 11 December; and work with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency and other Departments on a study of food and food policy in the UK, due to conclude in Spring 2008.

Asylum: Children

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures he  (a) has put in place and  (b) plans to put in place to expedite (i) trials and (ii) asylum hearings involving children.

Maria Eagle: The listing of cases in the criminal courts is a judicial function. The Lord Chief Justice issued guidance in July 2005 outlining the practices to be adopted when listing cases in the magistrates courts and Crown court. It says priority should be accorded to the trial of young defendants and specific account taken of whether they are remanded on bail or in custody.
	The persistent young offenders (PYO) pledge was established in 1998 to halve the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders from 142 days to 71 days. Under this pledge the Government remain committed to prioritise the prosecution of persistent young offenders.
	The Government are also committed to ensuring that cases dealt with in the youth court are dealt with as swiftly and effectively as possible and are considering implementing the principles of the Criminal Justice Simple, Speedy Summary (CJSSS) programme to speed up the youth court. A recent test at Balham youth court suggested that CJSSS could help achieve significant improvements in the time taken from charge to disposal of a case. I am placing a copy of the evaluation in the Library of the House.
	The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal aims to process and hear all appeals quickly and efficiently. The current target for asylum appeals is six weeks from receipt of the appeal to determination by an immigration judge. There is therefore no need for special arrangements to expedite asylum appeals involving children, although there is guidance on the conduct of hearings involving unaccompanied minors.

Cambridgeshire Probation Service

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the staff establishment of the Cambridgeshire Probation Service was in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to April 2003 was collated by a different source and was incomplete in some categories and therefore is not directly comparable with the figures collected since that time.
	The following table shows the staff in post in Cambridgeshire Probation Area from 2003 onwards.
	
		
			  Staff in post 
			   Cambridgeshire  NPS 
			 2003 225.30 19,164.00 
			 2004 223.12 19,563.00 
			 2005 242.18 20,584.00 
			 2006 251.03 21,371.00 
			 2007 247.66 21,268.00

Cambridgeshire Probation Service

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the likely effect on  (a) staff numbers in and  (b) recruitment to the Cambridgeshire Probation Service of his Department's recent budget settlement in the period 2008-09 to 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information supplied by Cambridgeshire Probation Service shows that they have not yet completed detailed business planning for 2008-09 and beyond. However, early indications are that, in light of the improved settlement from the 'flat cash' budget that was originally proposed, there will be no reductions in staffing establishment apart from those achieved through efficiency measures.

Cambridgeshire Probation Service

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) compulsory and  (b) voluntary redundancies of staff he estimates the Cambridgeshire Probation Service will make in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Information supplied by Cambridgeshire Probation Service shows that they are not expecting to make any voluntary or compulsory redundancies in 2008-09.

Chelmsford Crown Court: Parking

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many car parking places are reserved for  (a) judges,  (b) prosecution barristers,  (c) defence barristers,  (d) members of the public and  (e) staff at Chelmsford Crown court; what the total cost is of providing such spaces; what criteria are used for allocating car parking spaces to (i) judges, (ii) prosecution barristers, (iii) defence barristers, (iv) members of the public and (v) staff; what recent representations he has received about car parking in courts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what parking facilities are available at Chelmsford Crown court for victims of crime; what recent representations he has received about this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There are 46 car park spaces at Chelmsford Crown court. There are up to six parking spaces available for judges and four for magistrates. There are eight parking spaces for court users with disabilities who are blue badge holders. Otherwise no spaces are provided specifically for  (b) prosecution barristers,  (c) defence barristers,  (d) members of the public.  (e) There are approximately 32 members of staff from the court and other Criminal Justice Agencies for whom car parking spaces are available. There are no costs attached to providing parking as they form part of the overall court complex.
	The criteria used for allocating car parking spaces are that they are: (i) either judges or magistrates, (v) staff who work permanently on site at Chelmsford Crown court and who drive to work, or, on request by Court users who are disabled blue badge holders; including barristers for the (ii) prosecution, (iii) defence and (iv) members of the public.
	There have been no recorded complaints concerning car parking.
	There are no car parking spaces specifically allocated to victims of crime at Chelmsford Crown Court, except for those that have a disability. Departmental guidance on car parking is to provide parking for sensitive witnesses where space is available.
	There have been no recent representations received on this issue.

Chelmsford Crown Court: Witnesses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average waiting time is at Chelmsford Crown court for persons giving evidence; and what the average time taken was in  (a) 1996,  (b) 1998,  (c) 2001,  (d) 2005 and  (e) 2006.

Maria Eagle: The latest and historical figures, since records are available, from Her Majesty's Courts Service witness survey are shown as follows:
	
		
			  Estimated waiting time 
			  Survey date  Chelmsford  England and Wales 
			 November 1998 2 hours 56 minutes 2 hours 53 minutes 
			 June 2001 2 hours 33 minutes 2 hours 34 minutes 
			 June 2005 3 hours 33 minutes 2 hours 22 minutes 
			 June 2006 2 hours 37 minutes 2 hours 25 minutes 
			 June 2007 2 hours 49 minutes 2 hours 18 minutes 
		
	
	Data for the average waiting time for persons giving evidence is obtained from the biannual witness survey which is carried out over two weeks in June and November every year. It covers all witnesses who attended the Crown court, whether or not they were actually called to give evidence. We do not currently hold figures for the time taken to give evidence centrally.
	Witness waiting times are affected by several factors, for example the times that witnesses are asked to attend, how many witnesses there are in a trial and what happens in the courtroom. For example, there could be unexpected lengthy legal argument or other delays on the day, like the defendant not attending. These estimates should all be used with caution as the number of witnesses surveyed was less than 100 for each survey at Chelmsford Crown court, meaning that margins of error will be wide.

Contact Orders

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the durability of agreements on child contact reached through in-court conciliation; and what steps he is taking to reduce the number of such cases returning to court shortly after a child contact agreement has been reached;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the in-court conciliation pilots in diverting child contact cases from contested court proceedings;
	(3)  what effect agreements reached through in-court conciliation have had on the welfare of children in child contact cases.

Bridget Prentice: In March 2006 the Government published research by Dr. Liz Trinder of the university of East Anglia on in-court conciliation in three courts in England. This looked at the process and overall effectiveness of conciliation and examined the relative effectiveness of three contrasting models. 125 cases were examined immediately following the conciliation meeting and again six months later. A further study examined 117 of these cases to assess the position two years on. The Government published the findings of this further study on 21 November.
	At the two-year follow-up, 79 per cent. of parents had an agreement about contact. More children were having overnight contact and the overall amount of contact per child had increased since the initial conciliation meeting. However, 60 per cent. of agreements made at the original conciliation meeting had been changed or broken down. Analysis suggests that this was due to one or more of the adults or children not supporting the agreement rather than a change in circumstances. In 40 per cent. of cases there had been further litigation. 9.4 per cent. of parents reported that their case was currently active, a reduction from 25.6 per cent. at the six month follow-up.
	To provide ongoing support to parents and help prevent a return to court, the courts can make Family Assistance Orders (FAOs). On 1 October 2007 the Government implemented section 6 of the Children and Adoption Act 2006. FAOs may now be made for 12 months rather than six, and are not restricted to exceptional cases.
	The 2006 Act also contains provisions to enable the courts to direct parties to attend contact activities during the court stage and before contact is formally agreed. These activities will provide parents with access to more therapeutic services designed to help them overcome some of the underlying issues they face, which can act as barriers to co-parenting and to making contact work. We will announce shortly the timetable for implementing these and other provisions in the Act.
	The research found that 76 per cent. of parents in the study reached a full or partial agreement immediately following conciliation. In most of these cases the court will have made an order for contact with the consent of the parties, avoiding a contested final hearing. CAFCASS reports that in 2006-07 its dispute resolution work in these cases (focused mainly around the delivery of in-conciliation) achieved a full or partial agreement in 59.4 per cent. of cases going through the courts.
	The research concludes that child wellbeing is related to the quality of the relationship between the parents. While parental relationships had improved a little for some this improvement was modest and the majority of parents continued to report a negative relationship that had not improved since the original conciliation meeting. Contact activities will help to equip these parents with the skills and understanding they need to be more effective co-parents.

Death: Mental Health

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many inquests have been held in each of the last five years into deaths of people detained under the Mental Health Act in NHS mental health accommodation; and in how many of those inquests there was a jury.

Bridget Prentice: The Secretary of State for Health in his answer on 11 December reported that information provided by the Mental Health Act Commission indicated that 377 unnatural deaths of in-patients in NHS mental health accommodation took place between 2002 and 2006. Information on the number of inquests held on these deaths is not held centrally.
	The Ministry of Justice does not ask coroners to make statistical returns on inquests resulting from deaths of patients detained under the Mental Health Act of 1983.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent by his Department  (a) in total and  (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice, which was created on the 9 May 2007, is committed to embedding equality and diversity in all our policies and practices as we recognise and value the diversity of our staff and customers.
	The information requested is not recorded centrally and to supply the information would involve contacting each individual division across the Department at a disproportionate cost. I am, however, able to provide information on dedicated equality and diversity teams within the Ministry of Justice.
	The Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Division, which covers staff in the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), has a budget for 2007-08 of 2,029,256. The projected staff cost is 1,505,010. The Division, which runs six staff networks and provides advice on equality and diversity issues, has a staff complement of 36.
	Three Equality and Diversity Teams, transferred from the Home Office on 9 May 2007, are responsible for staff employed in the Prison Service and for equality and diversity policy in the Prison Service and National Offenders Management Service. The teams have a combined budget for 2007-08 of 3,647,000 of which 1,925,652 is for staff costs. The teams employ a total of 40 staff.
	In 2006-07 the budget for the Corporate Diversity Unit of the former DCA was 2,183,116 of which 1,053,869 was spent on staff costs. For 2005-06 the respective figures were 2,239,629 and 875,806

Departmental Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) men and  (b) women of each Civil Service grade are employed by his Department.

Maria Eagle: The latest figures for  (a) men and  (b) women within each Civil Service grade is reflected in Table A (Ministry of Justice' Headquarters) and Table B (Ministry of Justice' Agencies) as follows.
	Table A: The table reflects the figures within the Ministry of Justice' Headquarters as at reference date 30 September 2007.
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice Headquarters 
			  Civil Service Grade  M  F 
			 AA 17 19 
			 AO 116 270 
			 EO 176 257 
			 Fast streamer 19 17 
			 HEO 231 310 
			 SEO 183 200 
			 Grade 6, 7 231 246 
			 SCS 49 39 
			 Unknown band 0 3 
			  Note: Unknown bands are former magistrates courts posts, which do not equate with Civil Service grades, and whose grading is yet to be finalised under the current pay and grading review. 
		
	
	Table B: The table reflects the figures within the Ministry of Justice' Agencies as at reference date 30 September 2007.
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice' Agencies 
			  Grade band  M  F 
			  Her Majesty's Prisons Service   
			 AA 5,473 3,724 
			 AO 21,314 9,577 
			 EO 2,644 2,039 
			 Fast streamer 0 0 
			 HEO 391 344 
			 SEO 1,663 1,068 
			 Grade 6, 7 400 225 
			 SCS 35 8 
			 Unknown band 0 0 
			
			  Her Majesty's Courts Service   
			 AA 1,566 2,616 
			 AO 2,406 7,330 
			 EO 1,038 2,811 
			 Fast streamer 4 3 
			 HEO 386 828 
			 SEO 704 1,307 
			 Grade 6, 7 459 392 
			 SCS 49 18 
			 Unknown band 99 235 
			
			  Office of the Public Guardian   
			 AA 8 8 
			 AO 64 53 
			 EO 51 73 
			 Fast streamer 0 1 
			 HEO 19 23 
			 SEO 15 12 
			 Grade 6, 7 6 6 
			 SCS 1 1 
			 Unknown band 0 0 
			
			  Tribunals Service   
			 AA 143 183 
			 AO 712 1,324 
			 EO 164 330 
			 Fast streamer 1 3 
			 HEO 53 115 
			 SEO 28 30 
			 Grade 6, 7 35 32 
			 SCS 7 4 
			 Unknown band 0 1 
			
			  Scotland Office and Offices of Advocate General   
			 AA 3 1 
			 AO 4 4 
			 EO 0 1 
			 Fast streamer 1 1 
			 HEO 3 1 
			 SEO 1 1 
			 Grade 6, 7 4 4 
			 SCS 5 1 
			 Unknown band 0 1 
			
			  Wales Office   
			 AA 1 1 
			 AO 3 6. 
			 EO 7 8 
			 Fast streamer 0 0 
			 HEO 5 5 
			 SEO 1 7 
			 Grade 6, 7 6 3 
			 SCS 4 0 
			 Unknown band 0 0 
			
			  Office for Criminal Justice Reform   
			 AA 0 0 
			 AO 3 10 
			 EO 35 27 
			 HEO 36 27 
			 SEO 34 21 
			 Grade 7 34 33 
			 Grade 6 18 7 
			 SCS 11 3 
			 Unknown band 21 23 
			
			  National Offender Management Service   
			 AA 13 19 
			 AO 80 177 
			 EO 113 162 
			 HEO 76 102 
			 SEO 161 108 
			 Grade 7 144 121 
			 Grade 6 81 46 
			 SCS 31 25 
			 Unknown band 89 19 
			  Note: Unknown bands are former magistrates courts posts, which do not equate with Civil Service grades, and whose grading is yet to be finalised under the current pay and grading review.

Departmental Recycling

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much and what proportion of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what  (a) volume and  (b) percentage of its waste his Department recycled in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: As the Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007 this answer refers to the performance of the delivery bodies previously belonging to the Home Office and Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA).
	HM Prison Service is implementing a structured waste management programme across the public sector managed prisons estate. Waste management and processing within prisons, in the main, includes setting in place waste management units employing prisoners in the separation and processing of materials from the waste stream for recycling.
	1. Financial year 2002-03 the total waste arising reported was 2,837 tonnes, the total waste processed for recycling was 1,081 tonnes providing an average percent of waste arising recycled to be 38 per cent. (Hazardous waste not included)
	2. Financial year 2003-04 the total waste arising reported was 4,800 tonnes, the total waste processed for recycling was 1,396 tonnes providing an average percent of waste arising recycled to be 29 per cent.
	3. Financial year 2004-05 the total waste arising reported was 9,229 tonnes, the total waste processed for recycling was 3,851 tonnes providing an average percent of waste arising recycled to be 42 per cent.
	4. Financial year 2005-06 the total waste arising reported was 12,868 tonnes, the total waste processed for recycling was 5,569 tonnes providing an average percent of waste arising recycled to be 43 per cent.
	5. Financial year 2006-07 the total waste arising reported was 15,960 tonnes, the total waste processed for recycling was 7,022 tonnes providing an average percent of waste arising recycled to be 44 per cent.
	Former DC A had a policy of recycling but did not collect any historical data on the amount of waste recycled. As part of the establishment of the Ministry of Justice, and to help measure progress towards the sustainable operations on the Government estate targets, a waste management strategy has been developed and is currently being implemented across the estate. The waste management strategy will enable the Department to increase the quantities of waste recycled and report on progress to the Sustainable Development Commission.

Departmental Responsibilities

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) reviews,  (b) consultations and  (c) taskforces his Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to undertake; on what date each (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each.

Maria Eagle: A list of ad hoc reviews, groups and taskforces that have commenced and those that have been announced but are yet to commence by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is set out in the following table. Consultations being conducted by MoJ are published on the departmental website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/consultations.htm
	The purpose of each consultation is provided at the beginning of each paper.
	
		
			  Operated by Directorate/Agency  Provide name/details of review or taskforce  What is the purpose of the review or taskforce?  When is it planned to start and when is it due to finish?  Has a ministerial statement been made and when? 
			 An independent joint review of restraint commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Department for Children, Schools and Families. The review is led by Peter Smallridge CBE and Andrew Williamson CBE. The review will consider policy and practice across all secure juvenile settings, taking account of the use of restraint in young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes. Ministers appointed the joint Chairs on 8 October. The chairs have been asked to report their recommendations by 4 April 2008. David Hanson made an announcement on 28 July 2007. 
			  
			 Review commissioned by the Prime Minister and not the Ministry of Justice. The staff and funding are provided by this Department. Goldsmith Review of Citizenship. To articulate more clearly the significance of citizenship, and develop recommendations to ensure that our approach to citizenship is appropriate for modern issues of migration, identity and civic participation. Started on 5 October, expected to report in spring 2008. Announced in Green Paper on Governance of Britain. 
			  
			 National Offender Management Service. Lord Carter's Review of the Prison System in England and Walesindependent third party review. To consider options for improving the balance between the supply of prison places and demand for them, and to make recommendations on how this could be achieved. Started in June 2007 and has just finished, on 5 December 2007. Ministerial oral statement made by Justice Secretary on 5 December, repeated by Lord Hunt in the Lords. 
			  
			 Cabinet Office led. Strategy Group leading in MoJ. Data handling in Government. To ensure that all Departments and all agencies check their procedures for the storage and use of data. Started on 21 November 2007. No closing date announced. Prime Minister announced on 21 November at PMQs. 
			  
			 Office for Criminal Justice ReformRace, Confidence and Justice Unit. Race For Justice. The Race for Justice programme of work aims to improve the service offered to victims of hate crime by CJS agencies. Started summer 2006expected to be completed by summer 2009. Launched by the Attorney-General and Gerry Sutcliffe via ministerial statements June 2006. 
			  
			 Office for Criminal Justice ReformBetter Trials Unit. Tackling Gangs Action Programme. We are inputting on the witness protection side. Ends 31 March 2008. Home Secretary made statement on 9 September. 
			  
			 Office for Criminal Justice ReformBetter Trials Unit. Anonymity in sex offence cases. To see if the Court of Appeal should be given the power to displace complainant anonymity where they consider that the allegation was false and malicious. The review was commenced following the Court of Appeal's decision on 12 September 2006 to quash the conviction in the case of Blackwell. It is expected to conclude early in 2008. Review announced in reply to PQ 29 November 2006. 
			  
			 Office for Criminal Justice ReformBetter Trials Unit. Third party disclosure review. To set up arrangements for the disclosure of material by third parties to criminal investigations, proceedings, and reviews of possible miscarriages of justice which enable practitioners to carry out the duties imposed on them more satisfactorily, and so make for a more modern and efficient criminal justice process. The review commenced in October 2005. No. 
			  
			 National Offender Management Service. A working group to be established to examine the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of a structured sentencing framework and permanent sentencing commission. To be chaired by a senior member of the judiciary. As recommended by Lord Carter's Review of the Prison Systemto examine the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of a structured sentencing framework and permanent sentencing commission. Government announced intention to set up working group on 5 December, in response to Lord Carter's Review of the Prison System. Intention is that it should report to the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice by summer 2008. Working group announced in Justice Secretary oral statement on 5 December. 
			  
			 Ministry of Justice Constitution Directorate. Review of voting systems. Its purpose is to review the experience of the new voting systems introduced in the United Kingdom to inform the debate about whether changes should be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons. This review commenced in May 2005 following the general election. Secretary of State for Justice is due to issue a written ministerial statement on 11 December announcing that the review is complete and that it will be made ready for publication in January 2008. 
			  
			 National Offender Management Service. Prison Population Taskforce. A small ad hoc team of officials, largely drawn from within NOMS, led at SCS level. To support the Department and Ministers in managing a very tight prison population in the period prior to the publication of Lord Carter's review of prisons. Started in August 2007. The taskforce requirement will be reviewed as part of the Department's consideration of its response to Lord Carter's review. No. 
			  
			 National Offender Management Service. Review of Childcare Resettlement Licence: (Release on Temporary Licence). The purpose of the review is to ensure that the new Childcare Resettlement Licence, which enables prisoners who are sole carers to be temporarily released to visit their children, is working as intended. A review of Prison Service Order 6300 Release on Temporary Licence focusing on Childcare Resettlement Licence was planned to be completed in 2007. The review began in the spring of 2007 but a planned completion date cannot be provided at present. No. 
			  
			 Office for Criminal Justice Reform. Failure to Appear warrant withdrawal practice. To identify FTA warrant withdrawal practice and amend current guidance if required. Started on 29 November. Aiming to conclude by end of January 2008. Announced by Secretary of State in written ministerial statement on 29 November. 
			  
			 Independent review commissioned by the Prime Minister and Jack Straw. The staff and funding to support the review are provided by this Department. Data Sharing Review. Led in independent capacity by Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, and Dr. Mark Walport, the Director of the Wellcome Trust. The review will consider whether there should be any changes to the way the Data Protection Act 1998 operates in the UK and the options for implementing any such changes. It will include recommendations on the powers and sanctions available to the regulator and courts in the legislation governing data sharing and data protection. It will also make recommendations on how data sharing policy should be developed in a way that ensures proper transparency, scrutiny and accountability. The review was announced on 25 October and is due to report in the first half of 2008. No. 
			  
			 Paul Dacre, Editor-in-Chief of Associated Newspapers and member of the Press Complaints Commissionworking with Sir Joe Pilling, former Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office, and the eminent historian David Cannadine, secretariat support from TNA. '30 year rule' review. To undertake a review of the '30 year rule' that governs the transfer of historical records to the National Archives. The review was announced by the Prime Minister in his Liberty speech on 25 Octoberthe review is due to report back in the first half of 2008. Review was announced on 25 October 2007 in the Prime Minister's Liberty Speech. 
			  
			 National Offender Management Service and Department of Health. Lord Bradley Review. To examine the extent to which offenders with mental health problems or learning disabilities could, in appropriate cases: be diverted from prison to other services; the barriers to such diversion; and, to make recommendations to Government, in particular on the organisation of effective court liaison and diversion arrangements and the services needed to support them. Announced 5 December as part of Carter Review announcement. The review would aim to complete its work by June 2008, having consulted widely, including, in particular, professional bodies and service providers. Ministerial oral statement made by Justice Secretary on 5 December, repeated by Lord Hunt in the Lords. 
			  
			 Ministry of Justice Ministry of Justice Third Sector Strategy forthcoming consultation. To enable the Ministry to finalise its Third Sector Strategy, underpinning how relationships will be taken forward to improve policies and partnerships between the Department and the third sector. Due to start shortly and last for a minimum of 12 weeks in keeping with the Government code of practice on consultation. No.

Domestic Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government have taken to reduce re-offending rates of domestic violence offenders.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 13 December 2007
	 I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence includes an objective relating to the management of perpetrators to reduce the risk of re-offending. The following steps have been taken to achieve this objective:
	Specialist domestic violence courts (SDVCs) place victims at the heart of the criminal justice system through a multi-agency response to domestic violence that affords greater victim safety while bringing perpetrators to account for their offences. We are planning to expand the number of specialist courts from 64 to around 100 SDVCs by April 2008.
	The development of three accredited treatment programmes for convicted domestic violence perpetrators: the Integrated Domestic Abuse programme (IDAP) and Community Domestic Violence programme (CDVP) have been rolled out across all probation areas in England and Wales. The Healthy Relationships Programme (HRP) is run by HM Prison Service. These programmes are based on evidence of what is most likely to work in reducing re-offending.
	The establishment of multi-agency risk assessment conferences which aim to increase the safety of identified high risk victims through a safety planning approach and to determine whether perpetrators pose a significant future risk.
	The continuing support of multi-agency public protection arrangements under which police, probation and prison services in each of the 42 areas in England and Wales work together with social care, health, housing and education services to assess and manage the most serious sexual and violent offenders. Some perpetrators of domestic abuse will
	be managed under these arrangements.

Head of Management Selection and Succession Unit

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the role of the Head of Management Selection and Succession Unit (MSSU) within HM Prison Service is; what responsibility the Head of the MSSU has for making decisions on managed moves within the Service; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The role of head of MSSU in the Prison Service no longer exists. MSSU, which is based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire has responsibility for the design and delivery of assessment centres for the recruitment or internal promotion of prison staff. Under changes introduced in September this year, the former head of MSSU became responsible only for the design of assessments and not delivery. He plays no part in managed moves within the service, either in his current or former role.
	However, the head of MSSU reports to the head of resourcing within the HR directorate. The head of resourcing has responsibility for assisting both the operations and HR directors in the career management of senior operational managers. All appointments at this level are made on the direction of the deputy director general.

Hollesley Bay Prison: Prisoners Escape

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long each of those prisoners who have absconded from HM Prison Hollesley Bay in the last six years had left to serve of their sentences at the point at which they absconded.

Maria Eagle: The information provided is that held by the establishment and sets out the number of days left to serve at point of abscond for each of the prisoners who absconded in that year. However the information relates to automatic release dates and a number of those included would have had possible earlier release dates on parole.
	Statistics are not available for the year 2002-03. Two prisoners held on immigration warrants and one life sentenced prisoner also absconded during the period in question but had no fixed release date.
	
		
			  Number of days left to serve at point of abscond for each of the prisoners who absconded in year specified 
			   Days 
			 2003-04 128 
			  401 
			  20 
			  17 
			  172 
			  97 
			  38 
			  31 
			  69 
			  669 
			  833 
			  287 
			  52 
			  21 
			  637 
			  78 
			  76 
			  51 
			  192 
			  222 
			  81 
			  373 
			  542 
			  677 
			  789 
			  979 
			  261 
			  471 
			  209 
			  335 
			  333 
			  184 
			  204 
			  25 
			  61 
			   
			 2004-05 192 
			  20 
			  93 
			  225 
			  255 
			  375 
			  93 
			  22 
			  20 
			  357 
			  458 
			  708 
			  95 
			  228 
			  27 
			  261 
			  129 
			  114 
			  495 
			  487 
			  522 
			  222 
			  256 
			  120 
			  10 
			  140 
			  9 
			  253 
			  21 
			  18 
			  578 
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			 2005-06 121 
			  389 
			  551 
			  123 
			  87 
			  33 
			  68 
			  312 
			  42 
			  170 
			  675 
			  252 
			  466 
			  282 
			  691 
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			 2006-07 163 
			  738 
			  223 
			  408 
			  731 
			  720 
			  546 
			  25 
			  959 
			  10 
			  352 
			  272 
			  228 
			  59 
			  12 
			  319 
			  653 
			  229 
			  325 
			  379 
			  462 
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			 2007-08(1) 15 
			  125 
			  499 
			  134 
			  40 
			  210 
			  13 
			  169 
			  131 
			  47 
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			   
			 (1) Figures recorded for 2007-08 are provisional and subject to change.

Informers

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what training is required for the management of informants; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of training provided by HM Prison Service for such management; what legislation governs the provision of such training; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: HM Prison Service provides training to staff involved in the management of informants. This is role specific for a handler, controller or authorising officer. The legislation does not require staff to be trained. I have not evaluated the training but HM Prison Service are considering the possibility of obtaining an independent assessment of informant management training.

Law: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he is considering the merits of establishing a separate legal system for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Government are committed to enhancing the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales through transferring powers by either framework powers in Westminster Bills or through Orders in Council as provided for in the Government of Wales Act 2006. But there is a single legal jurisdiction in England and Wales and the Government have no plans to change that.

Legal Services Commission: Information and Communications Technology

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations his Department has received by legal service practitioners on the effectiveness of the Legal Services Commission's new IT system for online reporting of case outcomes and solicitors' claims for costs; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: My Department has not received any direct representation from legal aid practitioners on this issue since the Legal Services Commission took the decision to close LSC online until further notice. However, the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) has asked three parliamentary questions which were answered on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1260W, and two hon. Members have written on behalf of legal aid solicitors in their constituencies.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Archives

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the archiving of papers of quangoes that have been wound up.

Michael Wills: I am replying as the Minister responsible for The National Archives. The Government's policy on the archiving of records of quangoes and other short-lived public record bodies when their work is finished is set out in The National Archives' guidance document, Discontinued and Transferred Functions. A copy of this is available on The National Archives website:
	http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/stan_discontinued.pdf.

Offender Assessment System: Expenditure

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the Offender Assessment System for the Probation Service in England and Wales in each financial year since 2003-04.

Maria Eagle: The expenditure on the Offender Assessment System OASys) for the National Probation Service for the period April 2001 to March 2004 was 19.6 million. The total spend for both National Probation Service and Her Majesty's Prison Service in each financial year since 2001-02 is shown as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 34.1 
			 2004-05 7.1 
			 2005-06 6.9 
			 2006-07 6.1 
			 2007-08 5.6 
		
	
	We cannot separate out prison and probation costs after 2004-05.

Offenders: Crimes of Violence

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders are awaiting trial for offences of  (a) murder,  (b) attempted murder and  (c) sexual offences allegedly committed while on end of custody licence.

David Hanson: For the period 29 June to 31 October 2007, NOMS has been notified of one offender who is currently waiting trial for a sexual offence, allegedly committed while on end of custody licence.

Personal Injury Claims

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he intends to publish the results of the consultation on case track limits and the claims process for personal injury claims.

Bridget Prentice: We intend to publish the Response to Consultation early in the new year. We have received a large number of detailed responses which are currently being analysed. In addition, meetings have been taking place between officials and stakeholders to discuss in more detail some of the issues arising from the consultation.

Prison Accommodation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much time is allocated to prison officers to conduct a cell search; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service National Security Framework requires prisons to develop local searching strategies, agreed by the governor and area manager. These define the frequency of cell searches conducted in a particular prison based on an assessment of local needs and considerations. The amount of time allocated to cell searches will vary, therefore, across the prison estate and this information could be collated centrally only at disproportionate cost.

Prison Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2007,  Official Report, column 434W, on the prison service, whether Paul Baker is the assistant investigator on the investigation being run by Ron Tasker; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Paul Baker was the assistant investigator working to Ron Tasker on his investigation.

Prison Service: Termination of Employment

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 14 May 2007,  Official Report, column 554W, on prison service: termination of employment, how many of the appeals upheld in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07 were in the London area.

David Hanson: The information previously provided was obtained from the Civil Service Appeal Board to ensure it was accurate. The board have been asked to confirm the location of the successful appeals and I will write to the hon. Gentleman upon receipt of their response.

Prison Service: Termination of Employment

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 14 May 2007,  Official Report, column 552W, on prison service: termination of employment; what assessment he has made of the cost of collating this information at HM Prison Service area office level; whether information on the number of HM Prison Service employees dismissed for criminal activity in the last three years is collated in any form within HM Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: In order to provide this information, the HR Directorate would need to ask each area office to contact each of their establishments requesting a manual search of personnel records for each of the last three years. The figures would then need to be checked at area office level and collated centrally. No detailed assessment has been made of the cost of collating this information other than to confirm that it would exceed the current threshold set by Cabinet Office.
	The public sector Prison Service maintains a central database of disciplinary outcomes, including those where criminal activity has been found proven. This database is maintained from records provided to the HR Directorate at the conclusion of the internal disciplinary process.

Prisoners

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what proven or alleged offences offenders were recalled to prison from end of custody licence for re-offending between 29 June 2007 and 31 October 2007.

David Hanson: During the period 29 June to 31 October 2007, 11,132 offenders were released, of which 119 offenders were recalled from the end of custody licence scheme on allegation of re-offending. This represents 1.07 per cent. being notified to NOMS as recalled for allegedly committing a further offence while on the scheme. They were alleged to have committed a total of 170 offences. A breakdown of these alleged offences is in the following table.
	
		
			  Alleged offence type  Number of alleged offences 
			 Violence against the person 30 
			 Sexual offences 1 
			 Burglary 17 
			 Robbery 1 
			 Theft and handling 43 
			 Drug offences 7 
			 Motoring offences 13 
			 Other 58

Prisoners Release: Electronic Tagging

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the pilot project using satellite tracking for prisoners released on licence carried out by Group 4 Securicor; and for what reasons the pilot project was not put into operation more widely.

Maria Eagle: The project using satellite tracking for certain prisoners released on licence and offenders who received exclusion orders from the courts was piloted in three areas between 2004 and 2006, during which 517 offenders were tracked. The satellite tracking service was provided by three suppliers up to March 2005, after which it was provided by Group4Securicor (G4S) and Serco Monitoring under new electronic monitoring contracts.
	The total cost of the project was 4.75 million. This included the cost of the service provision from G4S, which amounted to 2.39 million.
	The pilot project was subject to an independent evaluation by Birmingham university, whose final report was published in August 2007. After consideration of the evaluation report, and the recommendations of a national offender management service working group, there are no current plans to implement the scheme more widely until the technology has been developed further to provide assurance of its capabilities and cost effectiveness. This issue will be kept under review.

Prisoners: Employment

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans the Prison Service has to make the development of structured work a central part of the National Prisons Strategy.

Maria Eagle: Providing an appropriate range of purposeful activity for prisoners, including work, is part of the Prison Service's strategy and will continue to be so in future developments. Work for prisoners in prison can be broadly divided into four categories: producing goods for the internal market; undertaking work for external contractors; providing essential services such as catering and laundry and land based activities.

Prisoners: Foreigners

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign national prisoners are serving sentences of  (a) less than 12 months and  (b) 12 months or more.

David Hanson: At the end of October 2007 there were 7,510 foreign national prisoners serving immediate custodial sentences in all prison establishments in England and Wales, of which 1,000 were serving sentences of less than 12 months, and 6,510 serving sentences of 12 months and over. These figures were rounded to the nearest 10.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Police Custody

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have been accommodated in police custody suites in  (a) the North East and  (b) Northumbria police area in 2007.

David Hanson: The following table shows the total number of occasions prisoners have been held in police cells in each police force in the North East in 2007. This does not correspond directly to the number of prisoners; one occasion is one prisoner night held in a police cell.
	
		
			  Police force area  Occasions( 1) 
			 Cleveland 12 
			 Durham 1,083 
			 Northumbria 1,113 
			 (1) To 10 December.

Prisoners: Self-Mutilation

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what criteria are applied by the Prison Service when deciding whether an event is to be reported as a self-harming incident.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service defines self-harm as any incident where a prisoner deliberately harms themselves irrespective of method, intent or severity of any injury.
	Prison Service Order 2700: Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Management instructs that all incidents of self-harm must be reported on incident report forms and an F213SH self-harm form must be completed. Noose/ligature making must also be reported on the F213SH even if no injury has occurred. Information from the F213SH is logged at establishments on the Incident Reporting System (IRS). All incidents where resuscitation and or transfer to outside hospital as the result of self-harm have been required must also be reported to HMPS National Operations Unit by telephone.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many on-site monitors there are in each prison in England and Wales.

David Hanson: The 11 establishments within the contracted estate have a controller, who is a crown servant. They are responsible for monitoring the contract and carry out a number of statutory duties as representatives of the Secretary of State. The three public sector establishments with whom NOMS has a service level agreement, HMP Blakenhurst, HMP Buckley Hall and HMP Manchester, have monitors. They are responsible for monitoring the contract but do not carry out operational duties. However it is not a requirement for controllers, monitors or their teams, to be on-site.
	Details of the current number of on-site controllers and monitors, and their staff, are outlined in the following table.
	
		
			  Controllers'/monitors' teams currently on-site in contracted prison establishments and those with whom NOMS has a service level agreement 
			  Establishment  Controller's team 
			 HMP Altcourse 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			  2 Assistants 
			   
			 HMP Bronzefield 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			  1 Assistant 
			   
			 HMP/YOI Doncaster 1 Controller 
			  2 Assistants 
			   
			 HMP Dovegate 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			  2 Assistants 
			   
			 HMP Wolds 1 Controller 
			  1 Assistant 
			   
			 YOI Ashfield 1 Controller 
			  1 Assistant 
			   
			 HMP Forest Bank 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			   
			 HMP Lowdham Grange 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			  1 Assistant 
			   
			 HMP/YOI Parc 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			  1 Assistant 
			   
			 HMP Peterborough 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			   
			 HMP Rye Hill 1 Controller 
			  1 Deputy Controller 
			   
			 HMP Buckley Hall 1 Monitor 
			  1 Assistant 
			   
			 HMP Blakenhurst 1 Monitor 
			  1 Deputy Monitor 
			   
			 HMP Manchester 1 Monitor 
			  2 part-time assistants

Probation Officers: Training

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on probation officer training in England and Wales in each financial year since 1997-98.

Maria Eagle: Reliable figures are only available from 2003-04 when the Home Office took over the funding arrangements for the universities. The figures for these years are as follows:
	
		
			   Amount () 
			 2003-04 51,579.000 
			 2004-05 56,531.000 
			 2005-06 50,819.000 
			 2006-07 38,273.000 
		
	
	In addition to these sums, Probation Areas will identify training needs within their individual areas and fund these from their allocated budgets.

Probation Service: Expenditure

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on electronic monitors for the Probation Service in England and Wales in each financial year since 1997-98.

Maria Eagle: Since the start of the electronic monitoring service in England and Wales in January 1999 the cost of the electronic monitoring (EM) of offenders has been met centrally and is not devolved to the probation service.
	Prior to April 2007, data on the breakdown of the cost of the EM service by the agencies using the service were not recorded. However data have been collected since April 2007 which identify costs of monitoring court ordered curfew requirements with a probation supervision requirement, and curfew requirements recommended by the Probation Service for offenders who were sentenced to a single curfew requirement without a probation supervision requirement. In the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 October 2007 this amounted to 20,162,610.

R v Roland P Wright

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make a statement on the case of R  v. Roland P Wright, Case No. T2003/0089 in Aylesbury Crown Court.

Maria Eagle: On 6 May 2003 Roland Peter Wright was committed to Aylesbury Crown Court from Wycombe and Beaconsfield magistrates court. He was indicted on 13 counts of indecent assault on a male person and three counts of indecency with a child. The offences were alleged to have taken place between August 1964 and May 1970. On 25 September 2003 the case was listed for an Abuse of Process hearing. On 26 September the judge determined that the application made on behalf of the defendant should succeed and ordered that the Indictment be stayed.

Witnesses: Children

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government have taken to ease the burden of criminal court proceedings on children who are called as witnesses.

Maria Eagle: The Government have already done much to assist child witnesses in criminal proceedings. We have:
	introduced special measures such as live links, video-recorded evidence-in-chief, screens around the witness box, giving evidence in private and intermediaries. An independent evaluation in 2004 found that 76 per cent. of child witnesses were satisfied with special measures;
	reformed the law on competence to provide a presumption that all witnesses are deemed to be competent;
	given 30 million annually to Victim Support, who provide the Witness Service in every court;
	introduced a statutory Code of Practice to give victims, including children, legal rights for the first time;
	spent 2.75 million on new court live link systems to help witnesses give evidence since 2006;
	met the target of having separate waiting facilities for prosecution witnesses in 90 per cent. of magistrates courts ahead of schedule;
	on 31 October, issued updated practitioner guidance on interviewing vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, including children.
	In June the Government issued a Consultation Paper, Improving the Criminal Trial Process for Young Witnesses which looked at further ways of helping young witnesses give evidence, including more choice regarding special measures. We intend to publish a response to this consultation next year.

Witnesses: Protection

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the cost of running the witness protection programme was in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many UK citizens are in witness protection programmes; and how many have been in programmes in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: Witness protection programmes are one of a number of measures taken by police forces to provide support to witnesses. A review of national provision in 2004 estimated that such programmes cost in the region of 22 million per annum. However, because of the operational sensitivity of this area of work, details of their programmes and witnesses assisted cannot be disclosed.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps  (a) he has taken and  (b) he plans to take to alleviate the concerns of child benefit recipients resident in Southend West constituency whose data was lost by HM Revenue and Customs on possible (i) identity fraud and (ii) criminal use of bank or building society account details; what recent representations he has received from members of the public about the loss; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. member to the statement given in the House by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-04.

Public Expenditure

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of economic activity was accounted for by public sector spending in  (a) the UK,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales,  (d) Northern Ireland,  (e) England and  (f) each English region in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: Estimates of gross value added by country and region are published by the ONS. Data is available in the ONS Regional Trends publication. Data on identifiable public spending by country and region is available in the Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (Cm 7091) published in April 2007.

Council Tax: Empty Properties

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to review or amend the council tax discount on empty homes.

John Healey: The Government announced in their pre-budget report that they will work with local authorities and other interested parties to assess the effect that the discretionary power to vary the council tax discount on long-term empty properties has had since its introduction in 2004, with the aim of identifying further options for reform in this area if there is evidence that it will improve access to housing.

Greenbelt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local planning authorities have land in their area with green belt status; and what the average area of green belt land is per local authority.

Iain Wright: The following table lists local planning authorities in England with green belt status and the extent of green belt land in their area in 2006, the latest year for which data is available.
	
		
			  Local authority area and extent of green belt land: 2006 
			Extent of green belt land 
			  Local authority  Mean high water (Hectares)  Hectares  Percentage 
			 Amber Valley 26,538 8,620 32.48 
			 Ashfield 10,956 4,520 41.26 
			 Aylesbury Vale 90,275 4,800 5.32 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,609 440 12.9 
			 Barnet 8,674 2,466 28.43 
			 Barnsley 32,905 23,030 69.99 
			 Basildon 11,003 6,960 63.26 
			 Bath and North East Somerset UA 35,112 21,440 61.06 
			 Bexley 6,056 1,120 18.49 
			 Birmingham 26,779 4,173 15.58 
			 Blackburn with Darwen UA 13,701 5,570 40.65 
			 Blackpool UA 3,492 60 1.72 
			 Blyth Valley 7,036 2,890 41.07 
			 Bolsover 16,033 1,100 6.86 
			 Bolton 13,980 7,270 52.00 
			 Bournemouth UA 4,618 730 15.81 
			 Bracknell Forest 10,938 3,850 35.20 
			 Bradford 36,642 23,890 65.20 
			 Brentwood 15,312 13,750 89.80 
			 Bridgnorth 63,317 24,490 38.68 
			 Bromley 15,014 7,710 51.35 
			 Bromsgrove 21,697 19,480 89.78 
			 Broxbourne 5,143 3,310 64.35 
			 Broxtowe 8,010 5,150 64.30 
			 Burnley 11,070 1,060 9.58 
			 Bury 9,948 5,930 59.61 
			 Calderdale 36,392 22,820 62.71 
			 Cambridge 4,070 962 23.64 
			 Cannock Chase 7,888 4,840 61.36 
			 Castle Morpeth 61,823 12,210 19.75 
			 Castle Point 4,507 2,750 61.01 
			 Chelmsford 34,225 12,890 37.66 
			 Cheltenham 4,663 810 17.37 
			 Cherwell 58,876 8,410 14.28 
			 Chester 44,804 18,520 41.34 
			 Chesterfield 6,604 1,430 21.66 
			 Chester-le-Street 6,758 2,770 40.99 
			 Chiltern 19,635 17,370 88.47 
			 Chorley 20,280 14,570 71.85 
			 Christchurch 5,133 3,470 67.60 
			 City and County of Bristol DA 10,961 610 5.57 
			 City of York UA 27,194 22,340 82.15 
			 Congleton 21,099 5,290 25.07 
			 Cotswold 116,452 110 0.09 
			 Coventry 9,865 3,000 30.41 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 43,041 1,250 2.90 
			 Croydon 8,652 2,310 26.70 
			 Dacorum 21,248 10,690 50.31 
			 Dartford 7,276 4,110 56.48 
			 Derby UA 7,803 250 3.20 
			 Doncaster 56,800 23,220 40.88 
			 Dudley 9,797 1,770 18.07 
			 Durham 18,668 5,690 30.48 
			 Ealing 5,552 330 5.94 
			 Easington 14,459 280 1.94 
			 East Cambridgeshire 65,128 1,910 2.93 
			 East Dorset 35,442 16,880 47.63 
			 East Hertfordshire 47,569 17,460 36.70 
			 East Staffordshire 39,000 40 0.10 
			 Ellesmere Port and Neston 8,841 3,450 39.02 
			 Elmbridge 9,634 5,610 58.23 
			 Enfield 8,220 3,010 36.62 
			 Epping Forest 33,899 31,680 93.46 
			 Epsom and Ewell 3,407 1,560 45.78 
			 Erewash 10,963 7,850 71.60 
			 Fylde 16,553 1,790 10.81 
			 Gateshead 14,236 8,680 60.97 
			 Gedling 11,997 9,020 75.18 
			 Gravesham 9,902 7,660 77.36 
			 Greenwich 4,734  0.00 
			 Guildford 27,093 24,110 88.99 
			 Halton UA 7,909 2,550 32.24 
			 Hambleton 131,117 1,520 1.16 
			 Haringey 2,959 60 2.03 
			 Harlow 3,054 630 20.63 
			 Harrogate 130,913 14,450 11.04 
			 Harrow 5,047 1,090 21.60 
			 Havering 11,236 6,020 53.58 
			 Hertsmere 10,116 8,040 79.48 
			 High Peak 54,025 4,000 7.40 
			 Hillingdon 11,570 4,960 42.87 
			 Hounslow 5,599 1,220 21.79 
			 Hyndburn 7,299 4,120 56.44 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,725 640 17.18 
			 Kirklees 40,860 25,510 62.43 
			 Knowsley 8,647 4,660 53.89 
			 Lancaster 57,585 1,730 3.00 
			 Leeds 55,173 34,380 62.31 
			 Lichfield 33,130 15,220 45.94 
			 Liverpool 11,415 540 4.73 
			 Luton UA 4,335 140 3.23 
			 Macclesfield 52,498 34,080 64.92 
			 Maidstone 39,333 530 135 
			 Manchester 11,565 1,710 14.79 
			 Medway UA 19,203 1,340 6.98 
			 Mendip 73,944 850 1.15 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 50,285 9,490 18.87 
			 Mid Sussex 33,403 20 0.06 
			 Mole Valley 25,832 19,660 76.11 
			 New Forest DC 75,329 4,830 6.41 
			 Newark and Sherwood 65,132 6,280 9.64 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme 21,096 9,420 44.65 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 11,355 4,390 38.66 
			 Newham 3,621 80 2.21 
			 North East Derbyshire 27,561 10,340 37.52 
			 North Hertfordshire 37,537 14,060 37.46 
			 North Somerset UA 37,468 15,480 41.32 
			 North Tyneside 8,247 1,660 20.13 
			 North Warwickshire 28,427 17,480 61.49 
			 North Wiltshire 76,767 1,800 2.34 
			 Nottingham 7,461 750 10.05 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth 7,895 3,793 48.04 
			 Oldham 14,235 6,260 43.98 
			 Oxford 4,561 1,300 28.50 
			 Pendle 16,936 2,070 12.22 
			 Poole UA 30,370 1,900 6.26 
			 Preston 6,475 660 10.19 
			 Pubic 14,229 7,300 51.30 
			 Redbridge 40,442 2,070 5.12 
			 Redditch 5,425 1,830 33.73 
			 Reigate and Banstead 12,913 8,800 68.15 
			 Ribble Valley 58,447 1,720 2.94 
			 Richmond upon Thames 5,741 140 2.44 
			 Rochdale 15,808 9,920 62.75 
			 Rochford 16,950 12,770 75.34 
			 Rossendale 13,805 3,130 22.67 
			 Rotherham 28,653 20,650 72.07 
			 Rugby 35,356 20,680 58.49 
			 Runnymede 7,804 6,140 78,67 
			 Rushcliffe 40,924 17,200 42.03 
			 Ryedale 150,659 860 0.57 
			 Salford 9,719 3,370 34.67 
			 Sandwell 8,556 820 9.58 
			 Sefton 15,314 7,840 51.20 
			 Selby 59,931 19,240 32.10 
			 Sevenoaks 37,035 34,380 92.83 
			 Sheffield 36,795 9,130 24.81 
			 Slough 3,254 830 25.50 
			 Solihull 17,829 11,930 66.91 
			 South Bedfordshire 21,282 18,720 87.96 
			 South Bucks 14,127 12,220 86.50 
			 South Cambridgeshire 90,163 23,430 25.99 
			 South Derbyshire 33,812 2,390 7.07 
			 South Gloucestershire UA 49,695 23,230 46.75 
			 South Oxfordshire 67,854 15,360 22.64 
			 South Ribble 11,296 7,730 68.43 
			 South Staffordshire 40,732 32,310 79,32 
			 South Tyneside 6,493 2,410 37.12 
			 Southend-on-Sea UA 4,176 640 15.33 
			 Spelthorne 5,116 3,320 64.90 
			 St. Albans 16,118 13,100 81.28 
			 St. Helens 13,639 8,880 65.11 
			 Stratford 59,817 11,140 18.62 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 57,585 17,430 30.27 
			 Stevenage 2,596 360 13.87 
			 Stockport 12,605 5,840 46.33 
			 Stoke-on-Trent UA 9,345 1,790 19.15 
			 Stratford-on-Avon 97,787 22,380 22.89 
			 Sunderland 13,766 3,490 25.35 
			 Surrey Heath 9,509 4,200 44.17 
			 Sutton 4,385 620 14.14 
			 Tameside 10,319 5,070 49.13 
			 Tamworth 3,085 200 6.48 
			 Tandridge 24,819 23,280 93.80 
			 Test Valley 62,760 0 0.00 
			 Tewkesbury 41,439 6,580 15.88 
			 Three Rivers 8,881 6,810 76.68 
			 Thurrock UA 16,338 11,980 73.33 
			 Tonbridge and Malling 23,800 17,060 71.68 
			 Trafford 10,603 4,060 38.29 
			 Tunbridge Wells 33,133 7,180 21.67 
			 Tynedale 221,943 27,440 12.36 
			 Uttlesford 64,118 3,810 5.94 
			 Vale of White Horse 57,864 8,320 14.38 
			 Vale Royal 38,019 17,270 45.42 
			 Wakefield 33,861 23,890 70.55 
			 Walsall 10,395 3,940 37.90 
			 Waltham Forest 3,882 840 21.64 
			 Warrington 18,063 11,510 63.72 
			 Warwick 28,288 19,950 70.52 
			 Watford 2,142 410 19.14 
			 Waverley 34,517 21,150 61.27 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 12,955 10,250 79.12 
			 West Lancashire 34,679 32,090 92.53 
			 West Oxfordshire 71,440 1,610 2.25 
			 West Wiltshire 51,692 5,140 9.94 
			 Wigan 18,819 10,650 56.59 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 19,843 16,520 83.25 
			 Wirral 15,705 7,330 46.67 
			 Woking 6,360 4,020 63.21 
			 Wokingham 17,897 2,890 16.15 
			 Wolverhampton 6,943 800 11.52 
			 Worcester 3,328 230 6.91 
			 Wychavon 66,354 8,910 13.43 
			 Wycombe 32,457 15,620 48.12 
			 Wyre 28,256 760 2.69 
			 Wyre Forest 19,540 11,210 57.37 
			 (1) Areas less than 5 hectares.  Source: Area of LA2006 Ordinance Survey Boundary line at mean high water. Extent of Green Belt LandCommunities and Local Government Statistical Releases: Green Belt Statistics, England 2006. 
		
	
	 Mean High Water (MHW)
	Mean high water (MHW) is the average elevation of all high waters recorded at a particular point or station over a considerable period of time, usually 19 years. For shorter periods of observation, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value.
	Source:
	http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/swces/products/pubications/glossary/words/H_M.htm#M

Local Government Finance: Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by whom the decision would be taken to hold a ballot, under her proposals to introduce powers to ballot on local spending decisions.

John Healey: The Governance of Britain Green Paper, issued in July, said the government will consult on introducing powers, for example to local authorities, to ballot a local community on spending decisions. We will consult in the new year on a strategy for Participatory Budgeting, which will cover the use of ballots.

Aviation: Security

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that flights into the UK are compliant with the same security standards as flights from the UK.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 11 December 2007
	International civil aviation operates under the principle of host state responsibility, whereby each state is responsible for the security of air services operated from its territory. States are required as a minimum to deliver the security standards laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and, within the European Union, those mandated by EU aviation security legislation. The Department of Transport engages both multilaterally and bilaterally to help reinforce aviation security performance in other countries, including in particular those from which there are flights to the UK.

Departmental Data Protection

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what reviews have been undertaken of her Department's rules on data protection in the last two years; if she will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of her Department's compliance with data protection laws; and if  (a) her Department and  (b) her Department's agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws;
	(2)  on how many occasions in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures her Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by her Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to her Department's rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions her Department's procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures her Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before its transfer; what technical protections there are in her Department's computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if she will place in the Library a copy of each of her Department's rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations;
	(3)  how many employees of each grade in her Department  (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and  (b) are authorised to download such data to disk; how many of her Department's employees have undergone data protection training in the last 12 months; what the average length of time is that each employee of (i) her Department and (ii) her Department's agencies has spent on data protection training; how many investigations of employees of her Department for improperly accessing confidential information have taken place in the last 12 months; how many such investigations resulted in cases of disciplinary action; and what the circumstances of each of those cases were.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures are in place in her Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is  (a) stored and  (b) transported securely.

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department's information technology and data management systems are BS7799 compliant.

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what mechanisms her Department has in place to ensure that databases containing personal information on members of the general public are not accessed  (a) by unauthorised staff and  (b) by authorised staff for unauthorised purposes;
	(2)  how many requests her Department received in each year since 1997 from the National Audit Office for access to databases containing personal information on members of the general public;
	(3)  how many times databases containing personal information on members of the general public held by her Department were accessed in each month in the last five years;
	(4)  how many staff have access to electronic databases which contain personal information on members of the general public in her Department, broken down by grade;
	(5)  how many security breaches regarding access to personal data there were within her Department in each year since 1997;
	(6)  for how many electronic databases containing  (a) names,  (b) addresses,  (c) bank details and  (d) other personal information of members of the general public her Department is responsible; and in what year each database was set up.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she proposes to review how her Department transports data; and whether her Department uses TNT to transport data.

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many confirmed data security breaches there have been in her Department in the last 36 months; and what action was taken after each occurrence.

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to protect the personal data on members of the public which it holds.

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Information Commissioner was contacted by her Department to report breaches of data protection security in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many breaches of data protection security there were in  (a) her Department and  (b) her Department's Agencies in each of the last five years; and if she will provide details of each breach.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review. An interim progress report on the review was published today by the Cabinet Office through a written ministerial statement. I also refer the hon. Members to the statement of 17 December by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on measures to improve the security of personal data.

Departmental Manpower

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage turnover of staff was in  (a) her Department and  (b) her Department's agencies in (i) the last 12-month period and (ii) the last 24-month period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The percentage turnover of staff in the Department for Transport during the last two years for which data is available is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage staff turnover in the DFT 
			   Year ending 31 March: 
			   2006  200 7 
			 Highways Agency 6.1 8.2 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 11.6 10.6 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 10.0 10.6 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency 6.0 16.0 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 12.0 10.0 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 20.0 14.0 
			 Department for Transport (Centre) 16.0 14.0 
		
	
	Turnover rates in the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Motorways: Accidents

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of motorway accidents in 2006.

Tom Harris: The exchequer cost of motorway accidents in Great Britain 2006 is estimated to be 23.9 million in 2006 prices. This estimate is based on the number of injury and non-injury motorway accidents in 2006 and the accident prevention unit values that are used in transport appraisals.
	In 2006 there were 164 fatal accidents, 789 serious accidents and 7,426 slight accidents reported on motorways in Great Britain. In addition, there were an estimated 63,680 damage-only accidents on motorways. The exchequer costs include medical, ambulance and police costs.
	The accident prevention values are taken from the Department's 'Highways Economic Note No. 1 (HEN1) 2005 Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties' and have been uprated for 2006.
	Using the accident values in HEN1, the total cost to society of all motorway accidents in Great Britain in 2006 is estimated to have been 815 million (2006 prices). In addition to the exchequer costs, this figure also includes estimates of the human costs, based on values that people are willing to pay to reduce pain, grief and suffering, the administrative costs of insurance, damage to vehicles and property and the value of lost output, including non-wage payments.

National Identity Register

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans her Department has to make use of data on the National Identity Register when it is established; and what the estimated cost to her Department of that use is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The only part of the Department that has plans to use the National Identity Register (NIR), when established, is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
	DVLA has been working for some time with Home Office and Immigration and Passport Service (IPS) to ensure that the new Driver Register system it is currently developing can make best use of the National Identity Register (NIR) when this is established. The new DVLA systems already interact with IPS Passport systems and as the NIR is established the intention would be to for DVLA to rely more on the ID verification provided by the new register and avoid the duplication in activities that currently have to take place as DVLA are required to carry out their own verification. This has been reported publicly in the ID scheme business case as the major benefit expected for DVLA. Having designed its new systems with this in mind, changing the interaction from IPS systems into the newer and more robust systems expected for NIR would have only marginal cost for DVLA.

Railways: South East Region

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the likely effect on rates of passenger car usage in the region served by the South Eastern rail franchise in 2008 as a result of recent changes to fares under the franchise.

Tom Harris: An assessment was made prior to the re-letting of the Southeastern franchise. This incorporated value for money testing of each franchise specification option, which included the proposal for inflation plus 3 per cent. on regulated fares. This proposal showed passenger growth in excess of that forecast for the country as a whole in the present White Paper and these estimates formed the basis of what was contractualised in the Southeastern franchise.
	So far, Southeastern passenger journeys have increased by 5 per cent. in 2007, the first year of the RPI+3 regime for regulated fares.
	The Department continues to listen to the representations of train operators and has invited Passenger Focus to take a greater role in commenting on the specification of future franchises.

Broadmoor Hospital: Death

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths in custody have occurred at Broadmoor hospital in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally. However, to improvise consistency in reporting incidents by the high secure hospitals, a new national reporting policy which includes information on assaults was introduced in January 2007, and this information is reviewed regularly by a dedicated performance manager for each hospital.

Health: Children

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to  (a) central Government and  (b) primary care trusts was of (i) the child health interim application system and (ii) RiO in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: All deployments made by the London local service provider (LSP) under the national programme for information technology (NPfIT), including the child interim health application (CHIA) and RiO, are part of the overall 1.016 billion contract between the Department and the LSP, BT. Work done to deliver and support the CHIA and RiO systems in the last 12 months has not resulted in any additional cost to that contract.
	Information about costs incurred locally by primary care trusts and other national health service organisations in implementing NPfTT systems and services delivered by LSPs is not collected centrally.

Hospitals: Admissions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency re-admissions there were in each year since 1997; and how many were of people aged  (a) 0 to 10,  (b) 11 to 18,  (c) 19 to 65,  (d) 66 to 75 and  (e) over 75 in each year.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency readmissions faced delayed discharge for each quarter since 2002 for which figures are available; and how many emergency readmissions there were in each quarter since 2002, broken down by age.

Ben Bradshaw: Currently, the best estimates of re-admission rates are those released by the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development (NCHOD). These estimates are derived from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data and are published in full on the NCHOD website at www.nchod.nhs.uk; a relevant extract is given in the following table. There are eight years data from 1998-99 to 2005-06 at primary care trust (POT) level and trust level, for the age groups 0-15, 16-74 and 75 and over. The data is presented both in raw form and also standardised for changes in age, sex, method of admission and case type and exclude discharges for those coded as death, day cases, maternity spells, mental health specialties and those with a mention of cancer or chemotherapy for cancer anywhere in the spell. Full definitions are on the NCHOD website.
	Other analyses from this source, including quarterly data, could be produced only at disproportionate cost. We regret that data linking emergency readmissions to delayed discharge, are not available.

Milton Keynes Hospital: Midwives

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives should be employed at Milton Keynes hospital to deal with the number of births there each year.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Chair of Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, as it is the Foundation Trusts responsibility to ensure that staffing levels are sufficient to ensure that patient safety is not compromised.

Palliative Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what matters were covered in the 2007-08 baseline review of end-of-life care services, as described in paragraph 7.51 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy; how many primary care trusts conducted the review; whether his Department has the results of the review; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The NHS Operating Framework 2007-08 highlighted the importance of primary care trusts (PCTs), working with local authorities (LAs), undertaking baseline reviews of their end of life care services in preparation for the publication of the End of Life Care Strategy. Guidance on what these reviews should cover was issued in April 2007. The guidance is available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_074108
	and a copy has been placed in the Library.
	The Department is not formally collecting or reviewing the baseline reviews. The baseline reviews will enable PCTs and LAs to assess current services, identify gaps or duplication and put in place arrangements to deliver comprehensive end of life care services that will provide choice, quality, equity and value for money.